Firsts

This week started out uneventful and led into a week full of firsts. I got to write my first kids up this week and attended my first middle school dance. Eventful week for a first year teacher.

Two of my boys got in a fight in the cafeteria Thursday after lunch.  One of my boys was crying over something that happened at lunch. When I realized he was crying, I went over to see what was going on. Then, the other boy decided he needed to run his mouth about the other one crying. Well, a "tough," crying 7th grader is already embarrassed. So, when someone started making fun of him, he felt he needed to prove how "tough" he really was. He slammed his tray on the ground and everything! It was quite comedic as both of them barely come up to my shoulders. I was right there when it happened and just pushed them apart after they barely shoved each other. Luckily, my class was the only one left in the cafeteria so hundreds of middle school students didn't come running to flock around and watch. The SRO officer came up and asked me if I wanted him to take them. I told him they were all his and we went back to class. Even though it was a minor fight, it did get my adrenaline pumping as it could have quickly escalated into something more.

My week ended with me chaperoning a dance. I never went to any dances when I was in middle school so this was a first in many ways. Middle school dances are so eye-opening. I got to see a different side of my students that I would never see in the classroom or even guess they had. One of my girls who is very quiet in class was breaking it down on the dance floor! She had some sweet moves! I was very surprised at how many of them danced. Granted, there were only two slow songs played and the rest didn't require a partner. However, they all mingled and didn't separate themselves by gender along the walls like I thought they would.  A couple times throughout the night a song would come on that was before my day. It was interesting to watch the dance floor clear when a song came on that they didn't know. However, the second a more recent, popular song came on, they all came running back in. And, I got to see what jerking is.  It was very cool to watch and made me thankful all over again that it is a dance!

Quotes of the Week:
"I want to go to MIT because 4 out of the 11 dorms allow you to have a cat...oh yeah and because of their technology program."

Me: "Get out a sheet of paper for your exit slip today, which you will turn into me as you leave class today."
Student: "Do you want us to put our names on this?"
Me with a straight face (I couldn't help myself): "No, I want to try and guess who's is who's."
Student: "Really? How are you going to do that?"
Another Student: "She's using sarcasm!"
Another Student to Me: "That was good sarcasm!"
[I'm glad some of them can pick up on the sarcasm. I try to limit my sarcasm so I don't make them feel stupid, but I just couldn't resist in that moment]