Only in Middle School

Last night and early this morning while I was getting ready to go to work, I began thinking I would try something a little different in my social studies class today. I decided to cancel what I had planned for today, and instead decided to take some time to let the students know that I recognize the uniqueness in each one of them. I told all the students to be very quiet and simply listen as I went student by student and row by row saying something nice about each one of my them.

Though initially the students thought is was a bit odd, most students were soon taken aback by my honesty and kind words. In each class you could have literally heard a pin drop as the students listened intently, and hung on my every word. At least that is until 6th period class when in the midst of the touching moment between teacher and students the following occurred:

When I had made it through half the class telling each student something good about themselves one of the students raised his hand. I ignored it at first, because I did not want to lose the moment I had created and enjoyed in each class that day. However, the student was so patient and persistent that I finally called on him. He said the following, "Mr. Styron, I need to go dig out my wedgie." And so went that heart warming activity.

Only in middle school my friends! :)