tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post633097202712665785..comments2024-03-29T11:29:56.764-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Mentoring Eighth Graders: What Would You Say?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68731307837352597402019-03-17T02:04:32.672-04:002019-03-17T02:04:32.672-04:00Thanks. I love all 116 of them! Thanks. I love all 116 of them! Lorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02833218449658357107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84673154680685268132019-03-16T15:21:24.799-04:002019-03-16T15:21:24.799-04:00Eighth grade students were my favorites to teach ....Eighth grade students were my favorites to teach . . . such energy and enthusiasm! More than anything, I think they needed encouragement to develop and share their talents, and to know they were admired and loved. <br />My room was filled with extra materials and projects to be used when an assignment was completed (which an assistant principal first described as clutter until she figured it out). Idle hands and minds do turn to mischief, whereas random resources can spark creativity.Mary Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952344253284240716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52069131326427725262019-03-16T15:19:56.105-04:002019-03-16T15:19:56.105-04:00The family motto of the frat house in which I resi...The family motto of the frat house in which I reside is: Own your bullsh*t, so we pretty much live by that. <br />To expand, I'd say try to be a good person but don't expect to be perfect. You will screw up and when you do, own it. Make it right. Once you apologize and make amends it is on the other person to accept it or not. Don't beat yourself up about it. Read. Travel. Try new things. Always reach out to others in friendship. Remember it's not all about you. Be kind.Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13589365995413467367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-32184391217186455042019-03-16T14:38:28.439-04:002019-03-16T14:38:28.439-04:00This is not quite 8th grade but the lesson still s...This is not quite 8th grade but the lesson still stands. Even into adulthood. https://youtu.be/sXy0ViWjD3gDavid Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144607647071920674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-896355082701844682019-03-16T13:36:43.772-04:002019-03-16T13:36:43.772-04:00Oh my gosh! How did I forget to say "read'...Oh my gosh! How did I forget to say "read'! Yes, yes and yes! Read.Lyda McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211808700153787911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89197594613825403842019-03-16T13:32:48.401-04:002019-03-16T13:32:48.401-04:00Your students are very fortunate to have you as th...Your students are very fortunate to have you as their teacher.Lyda McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211808700153787911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-76054671066573238542019-03-16T13:16:24.521-04:002019-03-16T13:16:24.521-04:00Of course, Read is a great one!Of course, Read is a great one!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-45504195845643922492019-03-16T13:15:29.868-04:002019-03-16T13:15:29.868-04:00You sound like an amazing teacher!You sound like an amazing teacher!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59012627365680264372019-03-16T13:14:55.643-04:002019-03-16T13:14:55.643-04:00Fabulous idea!!Fabulous idea!!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-55738693940704975412019-03-16T12:55:05.450-04:002019-03-16T12:55:05.450-04:00Such great advice from everyone. I think "Be ...Such great advice from everyone. I think "Be Kind", to yourself and others, is paramount. And stand up for yourself. Find something you really really love and work hard at it. <br /><br />Always try to put yourself in other people's shoes. <br /><br />Being popular in middle school has absolutely no bearing on how happy and successful you can be in your life. <br /><br />And READ!!!<br /><br />Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21353102854677576372019-03-16T12:47:30.936-04:002019-03-16T12:47:30.936-04:00Jay, you should tell the ones that turned out well...Jay, you should tell the ones that turned out well that you're proud of them. I'm sure it would mean a lot to them.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47715699869263442422019-03-16T12:36:37.743-04:002019-03-16T12:36:37.743-04:00Having coached 3rd through 8th graders at various ...Having coached 3rd through 8th graders at various points over the course of 25 years, I think I did do at least a part time mentoring job. <br /><br />I don't know that the line about life having lumps ride them out is something that gets reinforced in the schools. I've noticed that lately the schools have this perverted notion that the kids need to be told that nothing in life will ever go wrong for them. I once got into an argument with a teacher about that particular point.<br /><br />Denis Leary had a counterpoint to the argument of everything coming up roses. It was part of his stand up routine..."Life's gonna suck when you grow up...it sucks pretty bad right now". I admit, not the most positive outlook but it at least has more realism than "Nothing will ever go wrong for you!"<br /><br />I didn't offer my players any shopworn life advice while I was coaching them. I tried to lead by example. By that I mean, I didn't show up to practices or games hung over or still drunk. I always showed up on time. I gave them a set of expectations and set about giving them the tools to go about meeting them. I never got arrested. And in my book the most important thing was that I never lied to them.<br /><br />In case my point in the above paragraph isn't clear, those are all things that happened over the course of my time coaching with other coaches. I could go into detail but you get the point.<br /><br />I had some of my players go into coaching after their playing days ended. Some of them even coached with me. One is an assistant coach at the local high school. Some won state championships. One player became a doctor, one became a teacher. Another is a social worker. Others run their own businesses or have settled into the regular day in day out life that we all lead. I don't really say it to them but I'm proud to see that they've turned out well.<br /><br />Of course, the flip side is that some of those that I've coached have gone on to become drug addicts, alcoholics, drug dealers, car jackers, domestic abusers, DUI's, fugitives from the law, rapists and murderers. So, I guess my lead by example notion didn't quite take with them.<br /><br />So I guess in a long winded kind of way, I'm saying that I don't have any particular ideas to offer or add to those others here have given already. I do know that I'm glad that I'm not in the position of having to come up with any ideas to pass along these days though. It's hard to imagine the reception from those 8th graders of the moment.Jay Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11409350742317719903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70883946763053064272019-03-16T12:35:27.380-04:002019-03-16T12:35:27.380-04:00Honestly, I think we should be having some fun at ...Honestly, I think we should be having some fun at every stage of life.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-88619570340798138792019-03-16T12:04:31.240-04:002019-03-16T12:04:31.240-04:00Wow! What a timely topic. I am an 8th grade Read...Wow! What a timely topic. I am an 8th grade Reading teacher, and I’m going to share what I try to impart to everyone of my students. <br />You are beautiful. <br />You are smart.<br />You are important. <br />Everyone has a gift; maybe you just haven’t discovered yours yet. <br />You are loved, no matter what it seems like now. <br />I love you. <br />You can tell me anything, and I won’t judge or tell, as long as a.) you are not being hurt, b.) No one is hurting you, and c.) you are not going to hurt yourself<br />What’s the right thing to do? <br /><br />Hope some of this helps! Lorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02833218449658357107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-34561983323423450112019-03-16T11:51:38.345-04:002019-03-16T11:51:38.345-04:00Karen, my grandmother used to say, "You have ...Karen, my grandmother used to say, "You have two ears and one mouth so you listen twice as much as you speak."Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59644204424181294162019-03-16T11:50:41.697-04:002019-03-16T11:50:41.697-04:00I like those, Mark! Especially the last one - we t...I like those, Mark! Especially the last one - we tend to drive our kids hard these days to achieve and compete (at least those of us who can't afford to bribe coaches to get them into good colleges ;-/ ) and it's good to remind them they ought to be having fun at this stage of life.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16705961054387598022019-03-16T11:37:38.538-04:002019-03-16T11:37:38.538-04:00Thank you for the reminder. Life IS long and knowi...Thank you for the reminder. Life IS long and knowing all the answers is highly over-rated, in my opinion! Lyda McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211808700153787911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-12747988377285647212019-03-16T11:34:45.480-04:002019-03-16T11:34:45.480-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lyda McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211808700153787911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27117132403326252342019-03-16T11:31:56.676-04:002019-03-16T11:31:56.676-04:00Oh how I wish I'd worn sunscreen!Oh how I wish I'd worn sunscreen!Lyda McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05211808700153787911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2626461215607029642019-03-16T11:14:31.628-04:002019-03-16T11:14:31.628-04:00My 8th grade godchild and I have been having a lot...My 8th grade godchild and I have been having a lot of conversations lately around some of these issues, mainly that 8th grade girls are difficult at best, and that high school will be better. Her 14th birthday is next week. I think I will take all this fabulous advice and try to do something artsy with it as a present for her. She is a wonderful girl and deserves to hear all of it! Mary Robertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66770569863487050262019-03-16T11:03:38.406-04:002019-03-16T11:03:38.406-04:00Love all of the comments above! And I agree with ...Love all of the comments above! And I agree with your post, especially the texting and driving. I would also add "not talking on the phone while driving". When I drive, I have to focus 100 percent on the road and always be on the look out for drivers who do not always follow driving laws. I have seen drivers run through the red light!<br /><br />My favorite is Be KInd. Thinking about the eighth grade being really difficult with growing pains. I would add "You never know what the other person is going through. Be kind." And it is OK to say NO when a "friend" is trying to get you to do something dangerous and you know it is dangerous!<br /><br />Be polite, even if you do not like someone.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48471433455616707312019-03-16T10:58:48.065-04:002019-03-16T10:58:48.065-04:00YesYesBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33416097250090161632019-03-16T10:58:24.400-04:002019-03-16T10:58:24.400-04:00YesYesBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53610572321739815532019-03-16T10:58:11.974-04:002019-03-16T10:58:11.974-04:00Agreed.Agreed.Bibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37890282052470376052019-03-16T10:28:03.264-04:002019-03-16T10:28:03.264-04:00Don’t you think this is a manifesto of amazing adv...Don’t you think this is a manifesto of amazing advice?? I love your comments. Thank you!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.com