Once Upon A Time in a 6th Grade Classroom...

I teach sixth grade math.
Sixth grade is middle school.
Middle schoolers are bizarre.
​
Once upon a time in a 6th grade classroom, I wore glasses for the first and 65% of my students were confused who I was.

Once upon a time in a 6th grade classroom, I asked a girl why she was drawing massive Hershey Kisses all over her math project when she was supposed to be writing algebraic expressions.

Once upon a time in a 6th grade classroom, there was a honking noise outside and my student excused himself for eating too much Mexican food.

Once upon a time in a 6th grade classroom, I waited for 15 minutes for a boy to solve a problem because he insisted he do it in his head instead of writing it on paper.

Once upon a time, I had to remind a student NOT to penguin dive back to his desk on his stomach and to walk on his two feet instead.

Once upon a time, I had to walk outside, down the hill, and around the corner to retrieve the ball my student accidentally threw out the window during a game of Multiple Ball.

Once upon a time, I was explaining a project to one of my students and she responded by flailing her nostrils. 

Once upon a time, I received an entire vase filled with Swedish Fish from my students on my birthday as they sung to me in the hall.

Once upon a time, my students were proud to hang up their good grades under the "Our Mathematicians" bulletin board to show off.

Once upon a time, I consoled a girl in the hall who was nervous about her mother's reaction to her test grade.
 
Once upon a time, I was exhausted, all of the time.

Once upon a time, I questioned if it would be easier to just have another job, one where I didn't need to get 80 kids to be focused, polite, and learn something.

Once upon a time, I recalled the day I got the job and how proud my dad was of me.

Once upon a time, I realized that I don't say, "I'm going to work". Instead, "I'm going to school."

Once upon a time in a 6th grade classroom, I realized teaching was tough, but definitely worth it. ​