The Handshake

Middle school students greet each other with crazy handshakes. They slap hands, snap, click their tongues, nod and say "what's up." On Thursday last week, I decided to make my students do my handshake before they walked in class for the day. I would shake their hand, pull my hand back, snap and kick my right foot up and slap my ankle. The immediately began to laugh and say "no miss. You can't do that." Yet they all stood their and watched their peers go through the same process over and over laughing each time as if it was new each time. One thing I have learned about middle school students are that they are easily entertained!
This day in class was amazing! It blows my mind how much a relationship with my students impact their learning. During the final discussion of the day's new learning, my students talked, shared ideas asked questions and gave each other feedback on their thinking. I could have left the room and they would have kept on going! Keep in mind, this doesn't happen everyday but when it does it make you feel like you are making a great impact on humanity!
This school year I have been assigned a GREAT group of students. I have several boys with, let's say, eccentric personailities. The girls are sweet and shy. Usually my girls are much more open and talk more freely but this group of girls presents a new challenge. I look forward to all that these students will teach me this year!