Middle school teachers: how do you do it??

**ErBear** · 11-01-2005, 08:23 PM

I am a sub. I always knew I wanted to teach high school. Subbing is reinforcing this idea. I have found that although I try to be firm yet positive when I teach middle school kids, I just end up with a huge headache at the end of the day. The noise really gets to me. I can't tell them to be quiet enough times. They ask the same question 5 times, always, and I have to tell them, "Have your neighbor tell you what you're supposed to be doing" all day. And the whining...dear lord. Try as I might to be in high schools (and yes, hs students are challenging too, but in different ways), I am forced to sub in middle schools sometimes. This sounds horrible, but I just don't think I like preteens.

Any tips for surviving a day in a middle school?

**Bitsy Griffin** · 11-01-2005, 08:37 PM

Prozac :wink:

**wag** · 11-01-2005, 08:51 PM

A stiff drink when you get home.

**ErBear** · 11-01-2005, 09:04 PM

Hahahaha. Good suggestions. I'm already thinking about yours, wag.

**Hogwild** · 11-01-2005, 09:40 PM

I LOVE my eighth graders, but sometimes..... Anyway, yes they love to talk. No, they're not good with directions. I've just started to hand them their work and then tell them to follow directions because they sure aren't listening to me! Sure enough, their work is getting better. I think you have to be a special sort of insane to teach this age group, but oh are they fun!! And yes, the stiff drink sometimes is tempting! Karen

**Ima Teacher** · 11-01-2005, 10:43 PM

My degree is in secondary English, so I always planned on teaching high school. Of course, there was no job when I graduated, so I subbed. I agreed to sub for all grades. . . but let it be known that I would only sub elementary when they were in dire need. So, I went to high school most days. I did spend a few days in middle school, and I thought those people were completely NUTS to want to teach there every day. (Only, they weren't as crazy as those teachers who were at the 5th/6th grade center. THOSE were the completely looney ones.)

Of course, I sort of fell into a middle school position after subbing, teaching high school, and teaching homebound.

Now I wouldn't want to go back to high school. I'd always planned on going back to teach high school, but when they contacted me about a job there year before last, I turned them down. This year I even got rid of my high school lesson plans & materials.

So, I guess that proves that I've turned into one of those crazy people. :lol:

I know one thing, you can't take yourself seriously and teach middle school. The two things that keep me going. . . BE CONSISTENT and LAUGH. I happen to drink a lot of tomato & orange juice at work, and people always ask me if I've got anything "extra" added in there. Boy, I've been tempted a few times.