6th grade boys

I’m not sure there is a more awkward year of life than 6th grade. I am reminded of this every Wednesday night as we lead a 6th grade boys Bible study. In case you were wondering, 6th grade boys aren’t all that interested in the Bible. Or listening. Or focusing.

The surprise for me is that these boys are not much different than the awkward 6th grade boys in 1995 when I was an awkward 6th grade girl.



Proof that I was, in fact, an awkward 6th grade girl. Don't let the outfit fool you here, folks.  I was 12 in this photo, not 35.

I had a notion before we got started in this adventure that we would have a major problem: cell phones. I have heard from parents and teachers that nearly all middle school kids have their own phones these days, and many of those phones are probably smart phones with data plans. I pictured anti-social kids texting each other at lightning speed from across the room, or playing Angry Birds on their iPhones while we try to get them to participate in discussions. I just knew that kids these days didn’t know how to talk, because technology has taken away any need for verbal communication.

Boy was I wrong.

I haven’t seen a cell phone yet, and in fact, our biggest problem is that these boys talk. And they all talk at same time, and rarely on-topic for the night’s study. Last week, an 8th grade boy had to come in the room and tell our group to please be quiet. I looked longingly towards the room of civilized older boys, but then realized that these 6th graders are growing on me. Who knows? Maybe in another 6 weeks they will actually learn to listen.