Middle School(ers) vs. High School(ers)

I think probably the most important thing I learned during this past 6 weeks about middle school teaching is that the reason teaching middle school is SOO different from teaching high school isn't' because the subject material is so differnt, but because the students themselves are so different. I've really enjoyed this short time to focus on middle school teaching, because I've always assumed I would teach high school....but now my first job is going to be 7th grade Language Arts....so I need to start getting mentally prepared now! I've definitely appriciated all of our conversations about what kinds of books to teach in middle school, how to teach grammar, and writing, etc. Honestly, the more I think about it (I hadn't even considered middle school before 2 months ago!)...I really think I might like to stick with those crazy hooligans, for a while at least! :) I think I really like the idea of their energy and goofiness, insecurity and everything else that comes with them. I think I'll be able to work with them more than I would with high schoolers...I've been in a 12th grade class, an 11th, a 9th, and a 6th for field experiences, and now in ST I have 9th, 12th and "upperclassmen"....so I've had slim experience in middle school classrooms, but after visiting the school where I'll be starting in January, and thinking about that one 6th grade experience I had....I think I am going to LOVE it! :)