When Dr. Mee questioned the middle schoolers she found a number of differences between the grades. Not only were there gender differences, but there were differences between the genders between the grades. This section is designed to highlight a number of differences that we feel teachers will find helpful. We hope that you find the grade contrasts interesting and useful to your teaching.
When asked who or what is power:
5th and 6th boys and girls saw power as something physical, like strength, or someone, like a leader.7th and 8th graders viewed their peer groups, popularity, and cliques as types of power.
When asked what the best thing about their age was, responses were as follows:
5th and 6th graders said they got to participate in more activities. They feel they have more freedom.7th and 8th graders looked forward to becoming older. They are starting to feel the stresses of adolescents and of life. They are aware of the responsibilities and expectations asked of them.
In contrast, when asked what the worst thing about their age was, the students said:
5th and 6th graders said they did not like being made fun of or going through puberty. This is not a surprise. This age group also felt like they were being caught between the grown-up group and the kid group.7th and 8th graders said the worst thing about their age group was the lack of trust that adults had for them, the inability of adults and others to take them seriously, and teachers gave too much homework.
The best thing about my gender is...
5th and 6th grade girls responses were hair, shopping, and looking sexy. Boys at this age said not being a girl, being stronger, and being good at sports.7th and 8th grade girls stated that the best part about being a girl was looking pretty, having children, not having to pay for dates. The boys were not focused as much on appearance.
Middle schoolers also had varying things to say about play.
5th and 6th graders said they played in their free time. This age group was also more optimistic about being a young adolescent. 7th and 8th graders were not as optimistic. When asked about play, they responded, "Who has time to play?" 7th and 8th graders already are feeling overwhelmed from schoolwork.
What makes a good student?
"Fifth graders thought a good student was one who just gets good grades and behaves in class. Older middle school students thought of a good student in more complex terms such as one who displays good behaviors, is nice, does homework, listens, pays attention, and does not give teachers grief." (51)
Young Adolescents' Perceptions of School
Young Adolescents' Perceptions of Family