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Emma Burns
Ryan MacTaggart
Education 350
8 March 2017

The Life of Middle School

Harlie Brautigan.

Harlie Brautigan. A quiet presence in the back of the classroom. Her short blonde hair
frames her face, highlighting her high cheek bones and sweet smile. I wanted to know more
about her; I knew there was more to her than what meets the eye. Once we sat down together, I
introduce myself and explain to her the essence of my project.
Her eyes light up, Ive never been interviewed before! she exclaims. Exchanging
introductions, she tells me her full name and how she is thirteen, but still only in sixth grade.
Wow! I bellow, How did that happen?
Harlie explains to me she was held back in second grade, so now she is older than most
of her kids. From there, she begins by telling me about her nice, funny family. About how her
older brother has moved out, and it is just her and her parents. She tells me she loves them a lot.
Moving along, I pick her brain about what she thinks about school.
So, what do you think about school?
It can be fun, but it can also be eh.
I asked Harlie if she could expand on the general murmuring, eh, and without
hesitating she told me school was hard for her. She tells me bullying has been an issue for her;
that she does not get along with some kids. Before moving on, I asked her if she has told anyone.
Yeah, the councilors, but they dont do much to help me out, Harlie explains.
I tell her I am sorry to hear about her issues with some other kids. She nods
appreciatively, and then the look on her face tells me she is ready for another question.
Ok, so what do you like most about being in middle school?
I enjoy lunch, Harlie smiles. At lunch I get to sit and be with my friends. Also, I like
my classes.
Is there anything you would change? I ask.
Harlie began to shake her head as if to answer no. Then she looks up at me.
I would probably just change the bullying problem, she admits.
She reveals more to me about a boy who hit her and how she hit back. She again assured
me the councilors knew, but had not done much. I tell her she is brave. Pushing her hair behind
her ear she smiles at me, and nods. I smile back, admiring this sweet, little sixth grader;
confidence radiated through her, and if she could not see it, at least I could.
Okay, next question: Who is or was your favorite teacher, and why?
Waiting for a response, I see Harlie traveling back through her memories. Teachers faces
endlessly screening through her mind. Finally, she lands on oneher kindergarten teacher. I
chuckle, and probe her to tell me why.
I remember she was very pretty. Oh, and nice and funny. She always complimented me,
even my drawings.

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 As she tells me this, Harlie takes out some of her anima drawings to show me, which
were fantastic. With wide eyes I tell Harlie how talented she is and begin to think of what
influence teachers can have on students. Tiny compliments to a five-year olds scribbles ended
up making Harlie pursue drawing. A teachers words carry a lot of power. I learned this from
Harlies story.
I also learned her favorite class is English. She loves to write and read. Art, obviously, is
another one, but she will not be able to take the class until fourth quarter. There was authenticity
in her voice, I could tell she had a passion for expressing her creativity more than anything else.
Harlie was a student who needed an outlet to express her artistryher love for creating with her
mind and hands. Noting this in my head, I told myself as a future teacher I will remember Harlie
and make sure students like her are allowed to express themselves in my class.
Harlie, tell me what the most important things in your life are right now.
Oh, thats easy, Harlie says. My family and friends.
How come, I ask.
Because, they help me get through some emotional teenage stuff.
Chuckling I say, That is a great answer, Harlie.
Oh, and also, my boyfriend.
Not letting this one slide, I ask her about her boyfriend, Alex. She tells me they have
known each other for a while. She used to think he was mean to heralways sticking his tongue
out at her in the hall.
But, now we are dating, she blushes.
Moving into the future, I ask Harlie about where she thinks she might be in three years.
With a blank stare, she blatantly responds by saying high school. As if it was a dumb question
and I should have known that by now. I laugh and move on to the next question, genuinely
enjoying the quick wit and sweet smile of my new friend.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Maybe a tech person, like my dad, she ponders. Oh, or maybe a singer or an artist.
I remind Harlie again of her talented drawings and said I really hope she ends up doing
something she loves one day. She smiles at me, and says thank you. \
Finally, I ask her about teachers.
Harlie, what advice would you give a new teacher?
Stay strong, she states with confidence. We kinds can be crazy. Make sure we know
who is boss.
What a lovely response. I could not help but beam at her. I did not expect such humble,
honest words to come from this little girl. Then it hit me. Kids like authority. They want chaos to
be controlled and for the class to run smoothly. They do not want teachers who are easy to take
advantage of.
Harlie, is a more reserved student. She shows up to school and makes by
with the company of some her closest pals. Her love for art, reading, and writing is what makes
school enjoyable for her. As a future teacher, I want to grow students like Harlie into humans
who value their creativity. I want to make assignments available for them to express their minds
and not be limited. Harlies life in middle school shows me students have hard problems they are
facing outside of the classroom. Although, it is not my job to fix every problem, I will be mindful
of my own classroom behavior.
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William Pryer
William Pryer. A loud presence in the front of the classroom. Tall and broad, with a
presence radiating his power in the classroom. I wanted to interview Will. I wanted to shame
away my prejudices of him being cool or popular and I wanted to know more about him. He
was so much different than Harlie, I thought it would be interesting to interview these two. Will
and I sat down together, and I started to ask him some basic biography questions.
Will is twelve years old and is in sixth grade, same as Harlie. He has one older sister
along with four ducks and two dogs roaming around his house. I was excited to begin our
interview, but his body language told me he would be closed off.
So Will, what do you think about school?
Fun, sometimes, Will mumbles. Mostly boring.
Oh, why do you find it boring?
Its easy, I never feel challenged, besides science.
Thats fair and reasonable, I think to myself. I continue to ask Will about what he likes
particularly about middle school. He tells me he loves having periods, and being able to move
around from one class to the next. Once he said this, I remembered what it was like for me
shifting from fifth grade to sixth grade. Lockers, different teachers, multiple class periodsall of
it brand new and vastly different. I was glad Will transitioned well, and was enjoying his time in
middle school.
Who is or was your favorite teacher and why? I asked Will.
My fourth grade teacher Will states bluntly.
How come?
He said a lot of jokes and always used hands-on activities.
Jackpot. Will revealed to me humor was the salt to add to a bland classroom environment.
Kids need to be kids sometimes. Spending a majority of their day in school will suck the life out
of them, if the teacher does not create an environment which is structured, yet permits fun. Will
wanted to get down and dirty with his learning. He wanted to learn by doing not just listening. I
kept going.
What do you do for fun?
I play club soccer and club basketball. I also mountain bike as much as I can.
An active kid, to say the least. If this is what Will did for fun, I do not think he would
enjoy doing worksheets and staring at his computer all day. Will needed to move around while he
learned. I was learning so much from him, and he had no idea. I began to wrap up my interview,
because unlike, Harlie, I was receiving a couple word replies from Will.
Okay, Will, last question: what advice would you give to a new teacher?
Try to be nice and funny, and make it interesting.
So, Will, more of an active kid. Into sports, and being outside. Compared to Harlie, who
was more of the artist-type. Yet, both kids wanted nice and funny teachers. Expanding on their
vocabulary for them, I believe they want teachers who care for them, who show interest in them.
Teachers who are lively, spirited, passionate.

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Conclusion
 These interviews were valuable. I received vital information from both of these students
which I would have never known from observing them from afar. Without interviewing Harlie I
would not have known what an amazing artist she is becoming or how she may not be treated the
best in school. Without sitting down with Will, I would not have known he does not feel
challenged in school which is why he probably acts out in class. There may not be time to
interview every student you have. Yet, some beginning of the year activity, such as, each student
bringing in a bag of five things which represent something important in their life. Activities
which give each student the chance to be heard, can go a long way while teaching.