Teaching Middle School

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Home : 2003 : September : 28

Teaching Middle School
By Dayna

Hallie - I used to think the same way you did. When I went to college I thought I would love 3 or 4th grade. But when I did my student teaching I was placed in a 6th grade classroom for the first half of the semester.
I LOVED IT! The teacher who I worked with was a big help because she had a great attitude and she really got in to her lessons. I then finished off my semester in a 1/2 combined classroom and I honestly hated it. Runny noses, shoe laces, whining, the annoyances go on. I guess it wasn't for me. Set on 6th grade I started interviewing and the job that was finally offered to me was a 7th

grade position. I was apprehensive at first but it was as close as I could get. LOVED IT. At the end of the year myself and another teacher volunteered to "loop" to the 8th grade with our students. 8th is my favorite! I have been teaching 8th for 5 years now and I wouldn't want anything else. When people find out what grade I teach they always cringe but like they say, it takes a special person. I could never teach the younger kids but there are teachers who do and love it. It's like you have to find the right niche for yourself. Yes, there are students who are terrors (I think you'll find that at any level). But it's such a great time because they are mentally between wanting to be all grown up and wanting to stay young. You have to have a certain personality, sense of humor and unbelievable patience but if you can create an environment where they are safe to take risks and you show care and respect for them you will find you can be an extrememly impressionable person in their lives. I say if you think you like it go for it. You'll be able to tell after the first year if it is for you or not.