notes ―

why i hate 7th grade

  1. constantly talking over each other (and me)
  2. random yelling
  3. random animal noises
  4. random clapping
  5. never reading instructions
  6. asking the same question several times due to never reading and/or listening to instructions
  7. the "play" fighting that suddenly turns into choking
  8. throwing school material at each other and on the floor
  9. hitting each other with notebooks
  10. trying to play soccer inside the classroom
  11. scoffing when asked to do something
  12. not doing anything, really, even graded work
  13. running around and out of the classroom
  14. getting angry with their failing grades despite not doing any work
  15. 6-7

Writing this in the middle of 2 out of 4 English periods with my 7th grade groups (urban public school). They do not know how to behave in society/around other people and are extremely resentful of any attempt at teaching them to: listen, wait their turn to speak, not to hit each other. I've previously taught middle school from 2019-2023 before coming back this year; these are the worst children I have ever had in my classroom. Most of them were around 7 years old when the pandemic hit and it's like they lost and never recovered any sort of ability to socialize and behave in public. There is no way to work with them that doesn't end up with me stressed as shit, with a migraine or screaming. I hate it! So much!

#2026 #english #spring #work