At this point in my life, I consider myself to be an adult. Legally, you are considered an adult after the age of 18 and I always thought I was the day after my 16th birthday. Not so much. I could ramble on about the tough "real-world" experiences I've already had at my young age and how I've always appeared as a 40-year-old in a 20-something's-body. But the one idea I've come to love and truly accept at my age is that I never want to "grow up". Who says you can't be a kid for the rest of your life? Sure, you need to be responsible and respectful and make wise decisions, but there's no fun in being a serious, straight-faced, no-nonsense type of person for the rest of your life.
Plus, I'm pretty sure it's impossible for me to be that way. Sassy is my middle-name.
Something I've learned about middle-schoolers is that no matter how hard they try to be grown-ups and act like they are adults, they aren't. Whether they show that to you through UBER-dramatic tirades, a complete lack of responsibility, or their day-to-day resistance of doing the important things (homework, research, etc), they are all still kids. I started looking at my students like young adults who should know how to do simple tasks on their own. It only increased my frustration with them to the point where I would think "Are you kidding? You don't know how to do that?". Not healthy at all. They are still KIDS! Most don't want to be any more, but they are. I've decided to cultivate that inner child in all of them and make my classroom a fun learning environment where they get to be kids. Sometimes I can be one, too.
There is a healthy balance of letting your students be kids and also helping them grow into young adults (as they will be in a few years). But I always have to keep in the back of my mind that these students need to enjoy the simplicity of life as long as they can. I'd like to think at this point that my students understand the fine line between having fun and getting down to business. We laugh, we play, we joke, but we get things done. That's what middle school is all about.
At this point in my short career as a young teacher, I've noticed three major components to my classroom that helps me keep a healthy balance between my not-yet-an-adult-but-not-still-a-child group of middle schoolers.
1) Laugh a little each day
I am a sarcastic person. My boss at my first full-time job in retail used to call me Sassy. I'm pretty sure she didn't even know my real name. But you've got to have a great sense of humor if you're a teacher. Especially in middle school. But even more-so, you've got to allow time to laugh. You can't be serious all the time, and you know that at least once a week a student will say or do something totally ridiculous that you just can't help but chuckle at.
This past week I had my windows open in my classroom with my door shut. Through some weird law of science, the plaster ceiling tiles would raise off of the grid and float in the air. It was hilarious. And the best part about this phenomenon, was that I noticed it before any of my students. At a natural break in my lecture, I pointed it out. Together we were able to share in a group laugh that provided much relief and a perfect break in the lesson. We didn't lose class time, in fact, students were able to loosen up a bit and re-group. You can't always control what happens, so when silly things come up, let them be silly and laugh.
2) Play-time isn't just for Kindergartners
When I worked with fourth graders, I participated in a school-wide reward system where students who turned in all of their work for the week could have "Friday Fun." It was a simple yet effective tool that allowed students to strive to hand in all papers, assignments, and projects each week for some unstructured play-time. But that was with elementary kiddos. If you teach elementary school, Friday Fun can turn out to be your best friend.
When I transitioned to teaching middle school, I researched different ways I could motivate my students with a reward that seemed age-appropriate. Unbeknownst to me, Friday Fun is still cool in middle school. Middle school students still enjoy a good ol' game of Duck-Duck-Goose or Heads Up 7 Up. Who would have thought? When I started, I thought that surely some lame game would embarrass them. Boy was I wrong. Although there isn't enough time in a week to designate some Friday Fun each week, I do give students an opportunity to have a whole/half class period of fun at the end of each unit. Typically I'll try and connect what they've learned to that fun activity, but it's not always possible. Last week I told my students that if they finished their in-class assignment and missing work before the end of class, they could play a class game (of their choice). Magically, all but two students were finished with their in-class work AND missing work. Although they all have iPads, they opted to play an intense game of Heads Up 7 Up. Amazing.
3) Candy is still cool
I'm a sugar-holic. That's no secret. I've always got a small jar of Skittles or Gobstoppers or some small candy on my desk for times when I need a sugary pick-me-up. My students always joke about it and look forward to seeing what I put in my jar once it's all gone. With elementary students, candy seems to be some magical bribery that works like a charm EVERY. TIME. "Show me your finished Venn Diagram and pick a chocolate from the basket". "If you get an A on your spelling test you will get a Jolly Rancher." "Anyone who finishes their homework before the bell can pick out a Skittle." It's as if they've been deprived of candy their whole lives and their existence depends on getting that piece of candy.
Guess what? Middle schoolers are closet sugar-holics, too. Yes, it's true! I've got a noisy group of kiddos in my advisory and sometimes taking them to assemblies is a head ache. Last week I told my kiddos if they promised to sit next to each other in the assembly and stay quiet, I would give them candy afterwards. Magically, it worked and I had the most well-behaved class in the school. It's like crack for kids. Like I said, even middle-schoolers are still kids at heart.
These tricks won't work for everyone. Some middle schoolers really might be TOO COOL for you, but in general, if you remember that your students are still just kids at heart (and most teachers, too), it will make your life, and theirs, a lot easier. The more I loosen up and have fun, the more we get done as a class and the better their grades look.
"You can be child-like without being childish. A child always wants to have fun. Ask yourself, am I having fun?" CM
Emily :)
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