[HANASHIR:16591] 6th graders

[Elissa Klein <Elissa.A.Klein...>]

When my little sister was one of the 6th graders that I taught, she asked why I 
smiled so much.  She said I looked silly.  I know it sounds aweful, but you 
might want to try letting go of some of that enthusiasm around 6th graders.  
Play it cool with them.  The tweens are a tricky age to work with.  They're 
insecure, and if they think that their friends perceive something to be uncool, 
they won't do it.  Over the top enthusiasm might not be cool to them.  Kitsch 
isn't cool, but too much seriousness is boring.  Be straightforward and honest, 
and don't be afraid to let your cynical side show.  Don't sugar-coat anything.  
Treat the students as adults, and let them have at least some choice in what 
they learn.  

For example, one of my 6th grade religious school teachers thought our textbook 
was aweful.  Instead of putting on a smile and trying to convince us to love 
that book, she'd spend a few minutes reading us the notes she'd taken from the 
book.  She'd drop cynical comments here and there about the book's idiocy, and 
we loved it.  We'd discuss Jewish topics that we thought were interesting for 
the rest of class.  And she became a Jewish role model for many of her 
students.  6th graders are strange creatures.  Good luck with them, and I hope 
that this was helpful!

Elissa Klein