Year 9. Ugh.

[OneOfTheGrundys]

Please come and tell me your Year 9s are horrible too?

We started the year ok. Since Christmas however, they’ve turned into moody, attention sucking monsters who barely lift a pen.

It’s going to get worse before it gets better isn’t it. 😱

Sex obsessed? Most of ds1's friends think girls are yuk.

Thank you, Betty! (I'm always a cheery optimist at this point in the term...). Slightly dizzy with happiness as we broke up today!

History is THE BEST!

Ah Bless
Wish I’d had you as a history teacher.
We spent a year being shouted at to pay attention to The Waterways and Byways of the British Mainland.

DS is all science and maths but loves History and English because his yr 8&9 teachers were so good.

It must feel like a thankless task but don’t underestimate the impact good teaching can have.
Or how much us parents appreciate it.

Year 9?! I have the most delicious second set year 9 at the moment. They can be lively and chaotic but they are full of ambition and I bloody love them.

Please don’t ask me about (half a dozen kids in) one of my year ten sets. They are the stuff of nightmares!

Starts in year 8 and starts to calm down again in year 10, when the best ones become bloody lovely.

Left teaching before my SN year 9 was born but some things are timeless.

Yep I agree. As a teacher of several and a mum of one. Don't get me started on the smell if they come from PE - not sure if the BO or Lynx is worse!

Haha, took y9 DS and mates in the car to cinema, and could not believe the smell

Yes. Every year the same; they come back from the winter holidays obsessed by sex and utterly disinterested in lessons. Ours go on a trip to some Roman ruins followed by a picnic at a river in the summer term of Y9 and every year I am totally fed up with the bikini talk and outrageous flirting within about 48 hours of the trip being announced. Hormones!

I find Y9s start the year with the last bit of 'year 8 doesn't really matter and we are starting to get a bit hormonal and sure of ourselves whilst be totally insecure at the same time'.
By the middle to end of the year they've settled well and are.more like functioning young adults. But then i really like teaching y9.

I taught this grade last year and doh my- so entitled and they just give so little out in energy...i don't think they can help it. Grade 8 this year are quite annoying in how immature they can be- the boys that is. Hoping grade 7 will be easier next year. I like teens and honestly I wonder if i can teach another 20 years- they are so draining somehow.

DS is in Y9 and he's so lovely. Pretty sure he's a pain in the arse in school.

Maybe, but even some pains in the backside are really nice kids.

There's 'Timmy is a pain in the arse at times' (said whilst smiling because he's a nice lad being a y9 lad who pushes heir luck but if you remind him of boundaries he sorts it out) and there's 'Timmy's a total pain in the arse' (said with exasperated tone because Timmy seems to think rules don't apply, sanctions don't apply and is clearly a golden child at home so you know contacting home will lead to 'Timmy was just...' Consequently you realise that it's just going to be the long game with Timmy until he stops being a PITA)

My experience of y9 is that most PITA stages are the first harmless category and are really quite likeabke (even if you want to throttle them for losing their pen again!)

I am sure teachers want to throttle year 9 DS for not having a pen again (and yes I do supply him with adequate stationery )

I wouldn't worry. It's the story of our lives.
If someone always forgets then I start giving break detentions. If it's a one off then I just lend the student a pen.

It does mean you havr funny chats:
Student A: Miss, my pen's ran out. Could i borrow one please.
Me: of course. Are you writing in black or blue? (Hands correct pen)
Student B : Do thry get a detention?!
Me: No
Student B: No way. I think she should have one. You gave me one.
Me: Because you had no equipment for a week and her pen has just ran out. Put your spoon away and stop stirring.
Student B : oh yeah. Fair enough. (Gets on working)