thanks Lijun for your comment... if all my students were like you... it would be a perfect class! :) but I have to admit, I have a lovely class this year.. they are very sweet and caring... but very chatty and very curious about he world!

When I was studying at university, we learnt all about students' attitudes and behaviours as they grow older.. so I know exactly what you're talking about :) maybe you should be a teacher too! take care... Michelle

hello!:) i'm a middle school student in china.i want to make frendis with you.because my chinese name is also 叶慧琳.can you speak chinese？my english isn't very good.i want to improve my enlish by chatting with you.i uauslly make lots of mistakes.could you help me?thanks

Well, because I'm in that older age but not too old yet, I kinda understand whats floating in the kids minds better than older people like parents, teachers and principals. Here's a tip:

* Like any student, they always want to do something fun: Creative, Hands-On or Communicative with their friends such as group work but things always gets noisy. Just because they're doing something fun doesn't mean they'll shut-up, kids their age are all very social so unless you've got something to say that is worth their patience and listening, they'll just ignore you.

*Many students are very immature and do not know what education really is for, yes to learn things but why? They do not understand that what you're doing is actually good for their future and for them.

*They're always thinking of whats cool and whats not, and school is one thing that is not cool to them. Friends and parties and games are more cool. So all the attitude is basically making a statement that they think what you're doing is not cool.

*Attention from adults are lame, they think that adults are lame and just want to spoil the fun. They think they're boring, this is also why they have all that attitude.

*I believe that it is ahrd to get them to listen, it's the ahrdest thing to ever do. It's quite an impossible challenge. But as long as you hasve something fun, interesting and can relate to them, they may listen. Sometimes you have to get really angry to get them to listen but they know  by the looks of you, all sensible and nice, that you won't be really scary and so nomatter what scary face you put on, they'll just laugh or ignore so I guess the angry way won't work for you but I don't think you like the angry way anyway.

This is getting to be a pretty long comment. :)
One last thing: The reason why little kiddies are all "I LOVE YOU" and older kiddies are all "I HATE YOU" is because when they're young, they don't think as much as how others think about them, lame or cool, populars and geeks, they are all too innocent and young to understand the term "PEER PRESSURE". As they grow older, they start listening to what others think and therefore turn into "I HATE YOU" kids.

I, myself, am mature enough to understand what education is for, I have an aim to be someone successful when I leave school and I understand that I need good grades in school to do so and I understand this not because I am in high school now because I knew it before  in primary school at around Year 7 already (not Year 6 because it was still too early to become mature). My knowledge also comes from my mum, good communication is the key to a childs bright future. But it's hard to get good communication once they get all "I HATE YOU" already. :)

I hope you find my comment interesting esspecially when it's coming from the point of view of a kid.