The Sunrise Story

Yesterday, I was standing in the hall during class change and it was loud and chaotic and overwhelming. While I stood at my door to greet my students as they entered, I tried to notice the students as they walked by me. Some were involved in heated discussions about life while others walked alone. Some students were smiling and others avoided eye contact. A couple of students made eye contact with me...when that happened, I'd smile and say hello.  I imagined myself as a middle school student at this moment. Crowds are not my favorite and if possible, I avoid them. I wonder how I'd manage these halls every day, six or seven times a day.  It reminded me of how hard it is to be a middle school student...maneuvering hallways, friendships, social media, classes, teachers, and life.  It reminded me to show empathy when my students are late to class or forget something. Being a middle school student today can't be easy. 

I found many opportunities to talk with my students on Friday. Simple conversations. I listened to them, I took the time to hear their stories, to look them in the eye and to show them they are known. This is a luxury. What I mean to say is time is precious and there are many moments when I move on and I don't take that kind of time...on this day I did. As I watched and observed my seventh and eighth grade students working on their projects, I noticed that I had two choices. I could nag and remind and complain about their choices or I could watch and encourage and talk to them. Gratefully, I chose the latter yesterday and I was treated with the most wonderful conversations and moments with my students. One of my students who doesn't normally engage teachers in conversation started talking to me about the tv show Planet Earth. I was intrigued. He started telling me about the part with the flamingos getting frozen into the same lake, every single night. Night after night, th...

"You teach MIDDLE SCHOOL?!?!" I love this reaction from people. When I meet someone new and we get to the, "What do you do?" part of the conversation, my answer seems to incite yelps and cringes from people. They say, with horrified expressions, "MIDDLE SCHOOL? Really?" and they often follow it up with a blessing or a prayer. The joke is on them. Middle school is the BEST. I feel like it's the best-kept secret in education. Middle schoolers are quirky and funny and sassy. They are creative and interesting and in search of themselves. Every single day something hilarious happens...you just have to be paying attention. I was out sick for a couple of days last week. My sixth graders had to find something from their notebook to publish. Here's what I came back to... Come on...that's funny! When I take the status of the class, one student varies her response method. A few weeks ago she answered every day using a British accent and now...