10. Who Says Middle School Students Don't Care?

10. Who Says Middle School Students Don’t Care?

This we believe (NMSA, 2010).

*Organizational structures foster purposeful learning and meaningful relationships. Organizational Structures.

In the past few days I have witnessed the compassion and gentleness of middle school students. On Monday I was checking homework and noticed that one of my students had dissolved into tears. There was no sign other than tears streaming down her face. I invited her to head to the restroom and asked another student to go with her. It turns out she had not finished her homework and, as the perfectionists 'they' can be, was devastated. Once I got to the restroom the other student had assured her that she too gets very stressed out about incomplete work. The compassion for this student was so genuine and so...( I don't know.what to call it.).. the kind of support you would hope someone would show towards you when you needed someone, other than your teacher, to say, 'it will be okay.' It was heartwarming.

Then today, we took our kids 'to the creek,' literally. Three local agencies provided activities that allowed our students to get into the creek, measure the flow rate of the creek, and look for animal life in the creek. The creek is about a mile from school and we walked. It was a beautiful fall day and everybody got along. One child on our team, who has challenges communicating, participated in the trip to the river and was willing to get in the river. What was so touching to me was that a classmate helped the student get into the water, use the net, and made sure he got out of the water safely.  Another student, without being asked, sat down with the same student and ate lunch with him.

None of these children had to reach out to their classmates. These are not things we have taught them. These are things these children have learned from their families. The relationships they have learned are making our team cohesive and caring.

As I am writing this, I have just read a compliment of children in another grade, on another team...

This is from our Gear Up Facilitator.

I just wanted everyone to know that the 7th grade students I took to ____ today received the highest compliments anyone could ask for.   The facilitator shared that students were much more positive, cooperative, and communicative (in very appropriate ways) than even adults who came to learn teamwork.

I asked the students to share what they learned today.  They brought out many good points about teamwork, respect, communication, trust.  There was no griping, complaining, or arguing.  They were ROCK STARS.  The leader said that this is the first 7th grade group they've had and she is definitely going to schedule more for that age group. Thank you so much for allowing this group to participate. They all had excellent manners and will always be welcome to go anywhere with me!

Advice

1) Recognize the good work and the appropriate behaviors middle school students display. You can do this by letting them know and/or contacting their parents to let them know you noticed.

2) Do not be afraid to ask students to help with others. Middle school students want to participate; they want to be leaders; they want the world to be a better place.

3) Sometimes we forget just how big the hearts of these children are. When we acknowledge this, share what others are saying, help them recognize when they "do the right thing", we are encouraging them to be the leaders who make a positive difference.