third grade...

third graders are really fun.  they are really willing to learn, super eager to please, and full of questions (both good and bad).  third graders are also really exhausting.  they are still working on ignoring people who bother them, not being tattletales, and being responsible for their words, actions, and belongings.

we're half way through the year and i think i've adjusted from teaching my middle schoolers to teaching my third graders.  i REALLY miss the older kids, particularly the 8th graders.  i was young and cool to them, and they could talk to me / ask me for help and advice about school and non-school related things.   third graders just see me as still being too old to comprehend (which i get, but is not as fun).  teenagers also understand that they are typically slackers and can do better than they do.  they also can take and give sarcasm which makes life as a teacher a little more fun.. or for the most part at least (i did make a kid cry once when i played along on a joke and i guess he was more sensitive than we realized... oops.)  most third graders don't get sarcasm yet, and would not be able to hold back the tears.

surprisingly enough, even though those middle schoolers have disgusting raging hormones, and can be unpredictably mood swing-y... i think i'll be headed back to that age range when i'm back in the states.