Conversations with middle schoolers. . .

If you've never had the opportunity to work with middle school kids, you should try it. Oh, they're not always angels, but they're not the demons that lost of people make them out to be either. In fact, if you keep a sense of humor they can be quite entertaining.

Week before last my dad had to have surgery, so I took two days off work. I told the kids what they'd be doing with the sub and how I expected them to behave. Here's how it went with each class after I told them I'd be out. . .

First period--7th graders:
"Why can't your mom drive your dad to the hospital?"
She doesn't drive.
"Why is it that most old women don't drive?"
What makes you think my mom is an old woman?
"Well, I figured you'd have to be like 45, so she'd have to be old."

Wow. . . that stings.

Third period--7th graders:
I hear APPLAUSE coming from one child. Everyone in the room looks at him, and one girl finally says, "Maybe she's going to be really happy not to have to see you either, but she's too polite to tell you about it."

:-)

Fourth period--7th graders:
"What will you give us if we're good for the sub?"
Nothing. I don't reward you for doing things that you're supposed to do in the first place.
"Not even a Jolly Rancher?"

Sigh. . .

Sixth period--6th graders:
While I was telling them about it, the phone rang twice, the intercom came on once, and I had the endless streams of "make X stop doing Y", and they were all wiggly and fidgeting.

I don't think they realized I was going to be gone!

Anyone want 31 6th graders?