Boys....

5th period! For most people, that would not make any sense, but to me it is the hardest part of my day. This class is full of 23 boys... NO girls! These are not just regular boys either. Boy o' Boy these are not regular boys!

Let me explain. This class is full of a group of young 8th grade boys who love attention. They will do anything to be the funniest person in the classroom. When it comes to work, they can not seem to do anything on their own. When it comes to anything we do, they want me standing next to their desk, ignoring everyone around and only focusing on helping them. They strive to be the one who spends the MOST time with me by their desk. These boys also struggle in the classroom in a variety of ways. I am constantly teaching the same material in 10 diffrent ways to diffrent boys. It is a challenge, but bring on the challenge, it only makes me a better teacher.

Girls and boys in a classroom setting are definitely a good mix. They seem to balance out each other fairly well. 8th grade boys together and no girls, lets just say can become a huge stress or tons of entertainment in the middle of the day.

Here are some examples of things that can happen in a classroom full of only 8th grade boys on a daily basis:

1. Relieving of gas from their bodies.... not on accident, but to see who can be the loudest and the smelliest.
2. Your mama jokes....
3. Voice changes and then lots of laughter...
4. LOTS of butts and boxers showing as they walk around the classroom. My favorite phrase, said about 100 times a day... " Pull up your pants, I am tired of seeing your butt!!"
5. Punching, hitting, GRABBING... all I am going to say! (I just do not get it!)
6. Pick up lines! For example: "Miss, does your body hurt?" ... "No, Why?" ... "Because you look like you just feel from heaven!"
7. Blunt comments.... "Please can I have your number!" ... "How much do you weight?" .... "How did you get pregnant Miss?" ....
8. Sports talk.
9. Talk about women..... who is hot, who is not... and my favorite, discussion on whether or not they are a butt or breasts man. Neat huh?
10. The desire for attention!!!

Those are just a few things I deal with on a regular basis. Obviously I try to keep many of the topics and content matter of their conversations to a minimal. But boys will be boys! I guess the Lord is just preparing me for my little boy coming. I grew up with girls so many of these things were foreign to me.

Although I do struggle with that class, they are the most entertaining, and I bring home the most exciting stories for Andrew to hear! They do make me smile regularly. I also love the ability to show them that someone cares. They seem to connect to me because I allow them to be themselves in my classroom... as long as they are appropriate.

All I can say is that by the time Wyatt arrives, I am going to know how to handle him at the age of 13 because I already have 23, 13 year old boys of my own. Good practice! ;)