Not Always Rotten

Now, before I get everyone to believing that 6th graders are horrible, I want to share some sweet tales, so you will know they are redeemable. If given my choice (and thankfully I have been so far!) I will always choose the 6th grade, because the kids there are really at a fun stage... still sweet (sometimes) and still easy to scare, but still trying to be all grown up.

I know that some people are amazed that I enjoy working with them... they're always like, "You teach 6th grade?," in a tone of voice that would not have been out of place with them asking, "You like to dig up dead bodies on the weekends?" Almost always, they follow that sentence up with some variation of, "I don't know how you do it," or, "Bless you!"

It's really not that bad! (7th grade teachers, though, deserve medals... but more about them later).

So... sweet things my 6th graders have done this year:

-Made me a little kitty out of those beads you stick together then iron to make permanent, because she "knows I like cats"
-Told me (after not winning any awards at the end of the year teacher ceremony) things like, "you were cheated!" "It's not fair!" "They obviously didn't ask any of US who was the best!" and so on (they were honestly very upset by the fact their teachers were overlooked.)
-One of my most trying students came to tell me about a book he read because of me, and "It actually wasn't too bad"
-Brought me homemade brownies that SHE made, and NOT from a box (and they were the best I have ever had, I was so impressed.) I told her I didn't know you COULD make them without a mix.

And lots more. They really can be so sweet, thoughtful, and fun that I am so thrilled I get to work with them. However, all this sweetness and love doesn't mean that, for the most part, they remain 12-year-olds, who love nothing more than drama and being obtuse. Still, I love them.

Parents can also be the most wondrous creatures. I have heard 2nd hand comments about how I am a hard teacher, but the parents still want their kids to be in my class, how I am very fair but stubborn, and I expect a lot from my kids.

I have received amazing gifts from my parents and students just to show love and appreciation, and little things (like a huge pack of gel pens for prizes) to make my day easier. One parent, after finding out I needed bookshelves for the classroom, called all the local classified ads until finding one that would donate the shelf to me if I would get it. I hadn't even thought of begging with my teacher status...

So I just wanted to say, all craziness aside, I do really love what I do and love the kids... but part of what I love is the absolutely insane things they do, almost on a daily basis. It's a crazy job, but someone has to do it... and it might as well be me.