As I anticipate my new beginning at Feinstein Middle School in Coventry, my nerves are taking over. I have never worked with middle schoolers before. All of the crazy stereotypes about the age groups have my stomach in knots. What if they are true? What if I can't handle them?
The one thing I keep telling myself is that I just finished working with high school freshmen in their first quarter of high school. So it can't be too different, right? I am going to go in there with what I know and be open to learn more along with way. I will still need to use my teacher voice that I have established over the past year or so as well as my classroom management skills.
I may have to switch my teaching persona a little bit in the middle school classroom. I enjoy smiling and joking around with students, but I am not sure how perceptive middle schoolers will be to this. I am eager to get to know my students and learn about the differences between high school and middle school. I am not sure what to expect of a middle school classroom. I am either going to be pleasantly surprised because I am prepared by working with freshmen or surprised at hope different it actually is. Hopefully my nerves will be calmed after observing this week.
Megan- I think your nerves will be calmed after observing. Are you middle school endorsed? I get the vibe from your post that you're not, but I could be wrong. If not, I think it will be a good chance for people like you and me (who is also not middle school endorsed) to get to see our future students before they enter the domain in which we will be teaching. Our little first semester freshmen are still innocent!, but high school jades them and peer pressures them. What is our role as teachers to help see that spark in middle school and keep it alive in high school? Kayla S.'s post remarks on their innocence, which I think will be a really great thing to hone in on while teaching and observing these kids.
ReplyDeleteI bet you'll be pleasantly surprised :). These kids like being goofy and silly, but they also expect you to be the grownup and most will accept you as such. They are kids, and need the nurturing and attention, as well as direction. Here's where being direct and specific and redundant with directions is even more important than HS.
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