Teaching Junior High can definitely be challenging. You do have days when you are convinced that when the dismissal bell rings, you will run screaming for the hills, never to be heard from again. However, you take a deep breath and remember that Junior High is a beautiful world full of possibilities, and opportunities.
The eighth grade classroom is a place where they will laugh at your jokes, even if they are not funny. A place where you will sometimes be called “mom” by accident, and a place where students still like to get a sticker on their paper when they do well.
Most importantly, it is a place where students learn who they are and what they want to be. It is a safe place to learn and grow, and it is our job, the Junior High teachers, who are responsible for building this safe haven for them. Teaching Junior High is a calling, not a penance, and I feel so blessed that I was chosen to do this job!
When you are an eighth grade teacher in a Catholic school, you are not just teaching the core subjects like math and science. You are teaching students how to be independent thinkers. You are trying to get them to see the world around them, and be productive people in that world. To help them understand how important they are and how much God loves them. You are building the skills for them to make discoveries and form opinions. Most importantly, you are leading them to living a Christ centered life. A life filled with compassion and grace.
Junior High students are accused of many things. Quite often they are said to have horrible attitudes and don’t seem to care. I believe that their “attitudes” come from wanting their voices to be heard and wanting their opinions to count. I have found that they just need us to give them the confidence and opportunities to show how much things matter to them.
Eighth graders are also accused of thinking that they know everything and not listening. Trust me when I tell you, they are listening. They take everything to heart, whether they show it or not. The part about them thinking they know everything, well, that one is actually true! But is this a bad thing? I believe that it is actually their innocence showing! It is a great opportunity to help them find a voice, learn to debate, and be confident in talking about their thoughts and decisions!
I find eighth graders to be incredible. They are so enthusiastic and hopeful. When we do dissections, many will talk about how they want to become doctors and vets. When we are learning algebra and geometry, they will talk about becoming architects and engineers. The world is open to them, and it is my job to make sure that they have the foundation to follow their dreams and the tools to make those dreams come true.
On those days I feel like running for the hills, I always remember how eighth graders consider their teachers to be part of their family. They are fiercely protective of us. They may also hate us at times, but they always protect us and take care of us! Over the last 15 years of teaching at Holy Rosary Academy, I have had the privilege of seeing many of our students come back to thank us, or to just say hi and give us updates on their lives.
Catholic Junior High teachers have the responsibility to teach our children God’s love, forgiveness, and compassion at a very influential time in their lives. It is a time when they are capable of really understanding and fully implementing what they learn into their daily lives. What an amazing opportunity! What an honor to be part of their lives!!