Today I was allowed to be a sixth grader again. Two things right off the bat...1. I can't believe my daughter actually wanted to be seen with me all day (shock...I'm not as embarrassing to her as I assumed!)
2. I was more excited to see the 21st century middle school than I thought I would be
The day began with the pledge and a lecture from the principal to the parents about what we could and could not do. Then it was off to first period where my daughter was already hard at work. The kids in the classroom faced each other and not the teacher. They held mini white boards and dry erase markers. They watched a very creative and funny video of the sixth grade math teachers going on a scavenger hunt to find their class points that had been stolen. In the video, the teachers ran from one clue to another and solved math word problems to discover the next place to find a clue. The teacher paused the video to allow students the opportunity to solve the problems on their boards before seeing the teachers solve it. Sometimes the teachers got it wrong and it was awesome to hear the kids shouting "They are doing it wrong!" At the end of the video the students discovered who the thief of the points was. As the video ended one student asked, "Was that real? Did the points really get stolen?" A lot of the kids answered, "Yes! Its real!" I think my heart skipped a beat a little when I heard them say that. Bless them! Their bodies are beginning to grow up but they are still our little babies at heart! They still have that little piece of them that is like their four-year-old selves, believing in the unbelievable and unrealistic. The math teacher then assigned the students a visual aid project and homework. I worked along with Natalie. The 90 minute period flew by! Before I knew it, the bell was ringing. Or at least, the kids told me it rang. My old ears couldn't hear the darn thing!
Next was Pre-Athletics. Basically they should just call it Free Gold's Gym membership with your own personal trainer. I'm still hoping my principal will let me leave daily to attend this class. We lifted weights, we ran, we jumped hurdles and rope, we threw a medicine ball, etc. Well, I say we and I really mean they. I cheated my way through most of the exercises. As I was rounding the corner from my run the girls were literally cheering me on "You can do it! Almost there!" I can only imagine what I must have looked like for them to think I needed encouragement. Did I mention I was running with my coach purse filled with enough stuff to sink a ship?
The girls changed clothes and it was off to lunch. Wait, lunch at 10:30 right after a Jillian Michaels workout? Yep! For some reason a breaded chicken sandwich, fries, and green beans did not seem that appealing at that hour and following that class. I picked at my food. The cafeteria was packed with people. I noticed an armed officer in the lunchroom. That is definitely a new addition in the 21st century school. Natalie and I discussed why they would need one of those. We didn't want to speculate too much. That's just scary.
Next up was History class. I thoroughly enjoyed this since the teacher played Kahoot as a review with the class and allowed the parents to play too. She even rewarded the kids with candy! Yay! She let the parents play another round without the kids and I came in first place. I've still got it!
Off to ELA. I still don't understand the difference between ELA and Reading class. In elementary school, ELA is simply the average of the Reading and Writing grades. That makes sense to me. In middle school, it seems like ELA is just another Reading class. The kids did something with chart paper and blah, blah, blah, the kids and I talked about Looney Toons. Classic cartoons still live! At the end of the class, Natalie was able to present a project for me and it was pretty good. I was proud of her stage presence. She is super quiet in class but not shy at all about presenting. Go Natalie!
Reading class was next. ... Didn't we just leave Reading class? I'm still confused.
And it was boring. I don't even remember what it was about but I remember a kid sleeping in class. I think I was a little envious.
Theater class was up next. I was excited about this one. We walked in to Shrek the Musical music playing on the speakers. The kids had to take notes in their journals about the musical. The teacher talked a little about the musical and then demonstrated how to make cuts with makeup. The kids then got to practice making cuts on themselves or each other. Natalie gave me a cut on my arm and did a really good job. I made one on her face. Then I realized how macabre this whole thing was. Did I really just write that we cut each other? Yeah... 21st century angst. 
Last class of the day... science! What a way to top it off! It was lab day. The kids got to make a polymer. I couldn't tell the teacher 'no' when she offered up a pair of goggles in my direction. Screw the "no taking out your phones in class" rule, I had to get a selfie of this one. I forgot how awesome I look in these things. Natalie said I was under the table taking pictures. I wouldn't be that dramatic about it, but I was trying to be covert.Then the day was over and it was off to Walmart and time to prep for my own work day tomorrow. Ok, I admit it. I work a lot, maybe to the detriment of my own children. Natalie must have thanked me a thousand times for walking in her shoes for a day. She said I am usually "too busy to come to stuff" and she really wanted me there. Oops! Have I forgotten that I only have a little while longer? Have I forgotten that work will always be there? Guilty. I pray that I am teaching my children to have a good work ethic, but I also pray that God helps me to open my eyes to walking in my children's shoes more often. Seeing the world from their eyes, what they experience, what they think, is invaluable. I won't get these moments back. Surprisingly, the biggest take away from the day is how sweet and wonderful our middle school kids are. Every kid I came across was polite, respectful, and friendly. Its not at all what I remember from middle school. Funny, I went looking for differences thinking I would find the worst, and I actually found the best.
