Why are 7th graders so hard to deal with?

Question

I teach 7th grade English. I am having the hardest time getting them to be responsible for their own work and actions. I feel like an overpaid (and I don't make that much) babysitter. Does anyone have any suggestions to get their attention and get them on the right track?

Answer 1

You have to let some of those feelings go. If you don't you'll go crazy.

Try to remember that you are doing your job and they are not doing theirs. I always double check, or should I say reality check, myself by keeping the failure lists from the previous years. Then I can see that 'lil Johnny is not only failing my eighth grade class, he also failed grade 7 and 6. At least I feel better knowing it's not me.

We as educators cannot control everything. They are conditioned for internal motivation by the time they are 5. Where should the blame go? Well if Johnny isn't conditioned to pick up his toys and play nice, he won't be conditioned to do his homework either.

Answer 2

Well, I am The mother of a 7th grade girl and an 8th grade girl. I think that there is a social explosion that happens with these kids...and they think they are way more grown up than they really are. I know that as 6th graders my girls were still treated like small children, they were forced to stand single file in line and were almost herded like cattle...so to speak.
I know that these kids are given a lot more personal freedom in junior high and I think they are too young to realize that and it is going to their head.
My 8th grader has really by-passed the wow factor of the personal freedom...my 7th grader is still struggling with it a little. She has completely wrapped her self up in the social venue of her new life experience...I am doing my best to see that she gain perspective to handle the day to day experiences. I am sure it is age appropriate behavior...however I do not believe it is acceptable behavior...but then again that has to be taught. A lot of parents tend to forget that they cannot leave these lessons for the teachers of their children to be the only ones teaching this. I don't know that I could do your job. These kids are fighting so hard to be "grown up"...yet their life experience is very short.
I highly recommend that you just really try to be yourself...you know maybe throw in some personal conversation...so that they can see that you are human and have interest...comedy is always a good way to handle anybody of any age....I am sure this easier said than done. It is hard to find a balance between behaving professionaly and being down to earth enough to keep the kids in hand. I know my girls have come home from time to time saying that they may not like a teacher how they have been treated...I try to tell them that they don't have to like the teacher but I do expect them to show the teacher respect regardless of they feel. The other thing I make sure they know is that I would hate to think that a teacher has had a bad enough day that my girls would be the teachers dinner talk topic. I ensure that all of these teachers are trying to teach and earn a living and that my kids have no right to cause the teacher to have a bad day...I reference to the fact that I am a service worker and sometimes I come home and complain about someone who has made my day harder or has completely treated me like sh*t. I wish I could offer you more suggestions but I'm still challenged by my own experiences as well.

good Luck and Thank You on behalf of all the students who have not yet realized your impact!!!

Answer 3

I do respect you. I taught 6, 7th, and 8th grade for one year and went running back to elementary. When I look back on that year now, I have some fond memories. I found that if you can get some creative drama act ivies in, it really lights them up and they do some fabulous work. Let them work in groups to create a short play based on a piece of literature. I had great success (among many failures) with stories such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. And the just loved a story called "Sucker" even though it was set in the 30s or 40's. They worked in a group and modernized it and acted out a scene. It was great. But, man it was a struggle all year with behavior. Seventh grade is just hard for the students, teachers, and parents. They need someone who can hang in there. Be strong. Bless you.

Answer 4

Keep in mind that 7th graders have two things going against them, hormones and mentality. They are developing the hormones of an adult and still have a childs mentality, that is extremely difficult to combat. Remember to establish some ground rules and see them through, dont falter. If somebody steps out of line be swift in correcting them. Dont be unreasonable, there are going to be some minor problems like talking and such. Just seperate the talkers. Now for bigger things it will be necessary to contact an administrator. Or if minor problems soon become major problems. Good luck and remember, be firm but loving.

Answer 5

While most of your answers are quite good I'd like to also offer the following:

For several years I taught art in grades K-12 and in adult evening classes. From my own experience I found that students in grades 7-8 were in their most creative period of learning and fairly willing to accept and exhibit challenges that allowed them to express their creativity.

I was also certified to teach Government, History, and Physical Education at the High School level, plus certification in Counseling and Public School Administration. Therefore, I did teach and serve the school sytem in all of these areas at one time or another. Not bragging, just a fact and in support of the following.

Having come to the conclusion that 7th and 8th graders were at their most creative level I was able to offer them many creative challenges in all of the areas I was assigned to teach. The children rarely failed to respond and, from my observations, were usually happy and willing to learn in my classrooms.

While student success is always a welcome result in the classroom, parental support and good will were also beneifits I enjoyed as a classroom teacher and I believe it was this creative approach to teaching that was a key factor in bringing about the success of my students.

Of course the creative approach must be constant and meaningful, not infrequent and timid, Therefore, I suspect that using the creative approach in teaching is going to be a bigger challenge to the teacher than it will be to the students. However, it will be certainly worth the effort and I would seriously encourage all teachers to "take a shot at creativity."

Good luck!

Answer 6

You need to be humorous and friendly, but firm.
Having the right balance between these things make any teacher's job easier.
Do something fun with them.
I love games and stuff and when we got to watch movies, especially comedies and stuf.
Make a reward about, too, I guess. If they do this, they get a hw pass, if they don't they get more hw. stuff like that would make ME work, even if i was an egotistical freak who thought the world revolved around middle school drama. :]

Answer 7

This may sound dumb but flick the lights on and off in your classroom. It will make your students realize they are being immature since this is something kindergarten teachers do and it will make them straighten up and fly right for the short term at least. For the students that seem overly rude or rowdy, send them out of class. When a student doesn't do the assigned reading send them out of class to read and keep the other students in the room to discuss the reading and to dod whatever else you hav eplanned for the class.

Answer 8

English is boring so make it fun and the kids will pay attention. I am a senior in college and have had plenty of boring classes on subjects that I am not interested in. However, when a teacher makes the class interesting and presents the material in a fun way I not only learned more but paid more attention in class.

Answer 9

:D..... im a 7th grader!!!!!!!!!!!! just ignore them. they are trying to get your attention and to get you pissed off.

First thing is first, don't shout, it just makes the students feel bad. Don't lecture them over little things, and dont give them an extra chance to get extra credit or to redo their homework. Giving detention to them every now and then isnt gonna work.

just pretend you dont care... and they will eventually see that their grades are going down......

by the way... are u Ms. Clark?

Answer 10

be a thick assed teacher im in the 8th grade and one of my teachers did it and we shut up... good luck try to be nice wen posible though