Fires in the Middle School Bathroom: Advice for Teachers from Middle Schoolers

by Kathleen Cushman, Laura Rogers

The highly anticipated sequel to the bestselling Fires in the Bathroom ―filled with practical, honest advice from middle school students to their teachers

Following on the heels of the bestselling Fires in the Bathroom , which brought the insights of high school students to teachers and parents, Kathleen Cushman now turns her attention to the crucial and challenging middle grades, joining forces with adolescent psychologist Laura Rogers.

As teachers, counselors, and parents cope with the roller coaster of early adolescence, too few stop to ask students what they think about these critical years. Here, middle school students in grades 5 through 8 across the country and from diverse ethnic backgrounds offer insights on what it takes to make classrooms more effective and how to forge stronger relationships between young adolescents and adults. Students tackle such critical topics as social, emotional, and academic pressures; classroom behavior; organization; and preparing for high school. Cushman and Rogers help readers hear and understand the vital messages about adolescent learning that come though in what these students say.

This invaluable resource provides a unique window into how middle school students think, feel, and learn, bringing their needs to the forefront of the conversation about education.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Teachers, School, Counselling

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Amy Hopping · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is precisely because this book fulfilled its purpose of reminding readers of the complicated and contradictory middle school brain that I gave it four stars. The author explicitly stated that the book was not intended to provide concrete solutions, but rather to help teachers think of helpful solutions for their unique students and situations using the opinions and thoughts of the middle schoolers who were interviewed. Of course there are limitations to the amount of help this can provide. But it is meant to provide a perspective opposite the one from the experienced teacher or teaching coach that is typically provided. My one and only complaint is that the book included only the perspectives of urban children. Though all middle schoolers will have generally the same thought process, the perspective of a student from a different background will differ some. But the overall message from the book is to get to know your students and to not be surprised by their thoughts and feelings.

[Andrea So · Rating 2 out of 5]

While most things are true in the book, the comments of students were all over the place and contradictory. The book does not offer any concrete solution, but rather simply reminds you how complicated middle school aged children are. If you already work with them, then this book is nothing you don't already know.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author interviewed some middle school students. Their responses throughout the book are supported by Cushman's commentary aiming to help teachers understand the developmental needs of middle school kids. Everything in this book was obvious if you've ever taught youths in this age group. I mean, how could I not know that middle-schoolers change their opinions every other minute? Was it really an amazing find that tweens are pressured by their peers, want class to be more fun, and experiment with their identities? Nothing that the teens said in their interviews were any different from what we hear every day when we work with these kids.

I guess that maybe this could be useful to a first-time teacher who was placed in a middle school position who really wanted a high school job, but to get our secondary education degrees, we DID have to take a class on child development focusing on grades 7-12, so I guess I would rate this book: Irrelevant to its intended audience.

[Jill Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't seem as powerful as the high school text.

[jenna ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has definitely aged over 15 years in some ways, but in others it's a somewhat timeless reminder to teachers (adults in general) to take kids seriously. I do think the book is longer than it needs to be, and I found myself skimming several sections disinterestedly or reading only the students’ words and not the authors’ interpretations, which sometimes didn’t seem to match the associated quotes.

As other reviewers say, a lot of this stuff is common sense for people who have worked with middle schoolers, but it’s still a worthwhile message, if clunkily
delivered, and I hope I can put it into practice in my own eventual middle school teaching.

[Amy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was lighthearted and funny. Listening to how middle schoolers talk and what their perspective is can make anyone laugh. It seems to me that most of the students who were interviewed in the book came from struggling backgrounds. I wish the schools and students were more varied in their representation. Overall, this book gives middle school teachers the guidance to build strong relationships with students and their families.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading advice from middle schoolers. Most teacher, self-help books I’ve had have been from the perspective of a teacher, so it was refreshing to hear about what students have to think about teaching and the classroom environment.

I think some of it was common sense stuff, but it got me thinking critically about my own teaching practices.

[Maryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book at a used book sale several years ago at the library. I picked it up for a reason not discernable to me at the time, as I was a college level instructor. Now, I'm going to be a high school teacher, and though the voices from this book are younger, they are still instructive. And really, not that different from what my older students wanted.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was written in 2008, it still has great advice for Middle School teachers today. I found many useful tidbits of advice and things to use in my classroom. I am glad I read it before starting to teach middle school. Easy read too, not so information heavy/boring like many teacher books.

[Genesis Escobedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest to God, such an informative and encouraging book to read as someone who is going to be a Middle School teacher. It makes me so excited and emotional to love my students one day and see them for who they are.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny but so true!!

[Stephanie Kiefer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, especially if you are new to middle school. Even if you're a veteran teacher, this book offers good insight directly from middle schoolers.

[Krypsie Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is as bland and uninspiring as the crotch goblins it quotes.

[Marie Puckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic; every MG teacher should read this. Real opinions from the students you’ll encounter during your time in the MG classroom.

[claire button · Rating 3 out of 5]

good, repetitive

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I work with middle school kiddos and was hoping to get some new perspectives into their needs and wants. My time in middle school was hardly easy, and part of that memory is what makes me so passionate about helping and working with them now. This book did have some of those perspectives I was seeking, and some helpful ideas for teachers, but little of that was applicable to my situation. There is plenty of good advice in here, especially for teachers who are just starting to work with middle schoolers, or who don't have much experience with them. I appreciate how the students represented in this book are from different backgrounds, income levels, and locations in the country. There is a good variety. I also appreciated some of the ideas for helping teachers keep track of information, such as parent contacts, what works and doesn't work, and interest surveys for students. Even though I am not a teacher, some of those will help me still. It would be really helpful to read a book incredibly similar to this but that is geared for school counselors. The students may be the same, but our interactions with the students are different.

[Mr. Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did appreciate the overall message of this text, I can't help but feel it was incomplete. Allowing authentic voices to be expressed is one thing, but after so many complaints, the messages became diluted. They beat you over the head with just how complex and contradictory middle school students are. That alone makes the reading process uneasy, but after a certain point I became disgruntled when problems would be brought up and discussed ad nauseam with one or two wrap up sentences used to discuss potential solutions.

The critical aspect this book is missing is providing solutions or examples of what these children truly responded to instead of vague, one-sentence summaries. The personalities that were most prominent were also the ones whom expressed the most negativity. It made me feel like this was just an airing of grievances.

I did appreciate the questions and spaces provided for self-reflection. I also valued the templates for parental participation. If this text gave me more direction instead of waves of negativity then I would have enjoyed it more.

But then again the topics here aren't said for my entertainment. I think what I'm experiencing is growing pains. The messages are getting me to think very deeply and I'm obviously affected by what I've read... Ok fine! I'll give it another star! I do suppose the message is sticking with me long enough to write this uber-long review.

Read if you're into challenging your own thinking and if you are up to the task of providing your own answers.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and relevant but not necessarily anything new. I felt like I already knew a lot of this stuff just from working with middle school kids. They love to talk and I have heard most of this stuff from my own sixth graders. Plus, I've participated in a lot of discussions about middle grade psychology with teachers at my school and in my grad classes. So, really, I didn't find anything in this book to be more honest or insightful than what I already knew from personal experience.

I think it all really comes down to reflection. If you actually spend time listening to your students then a lot of this you should probably know. Still, it might be good to skim through this book and sort of reexamine your biases and thoughts about your students. If you teach middle school you'll probably find that these kids (in the book) are telling you the exact same thing the kids that you're teaching are telling you about your instruction and interaction with them. Still, reading this makes it more transparent and concrete in some ways and got me to rethink some of my interactions with students.

I definitely recommend this to new middle school teachers and/or those coming from teaching other age groups because this book does a nice job of showing the reader how middle school is different and how you can best support kids in this age group.

[John Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most important about this book is the mere fact that it exists, what it sets out to do. The student testimonials are great, but this book serves to remind pre-service teachers and even current teachers that we must always start with the student perspective. Where are they coming from? What are they thinking? Who is it that you are about to teach and what can you do to help them want to learn? The book is not terribly prescriptive. In some cases that is impossible because student testimonials often come into conflict with each other. But that's okay. That in itself is an important lesson: that at any given time, any move you make or don't make can be met with a diversity of responses, and that the students in your class bring a diversity of needs and abilities. Balance is the answer: balancing between the needs of your many and different students. They all deserve to learn something and to be treated like the school and the teacher cares about their success. In the end, that is what this book is: a course in how to care for our students.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't as enlightening as the first. I can attribute that to two things off the top of my head: when I read the first one I was just about to start student teaching (as opposed to the years of experience I have under my belt when reading this one) and middle school children don't seem to give nearly as good advice. I accredit the later to their ever changing thoughts and opinions and their inability to really understand what their teachers' goals are, both for the teacher and the pupil.

I was hoping for something that would give me a little more guidance as I prepare to teach Middle School for the first time after three years of high school teaching. I still think the book is worth skimming through, even if all you learn is that early adolescents are super indecisive about everything. I just won't recommend this one as readily as I did the first.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intended for Middle School teachers, but is great for anyone who works with urban middle school-aged teens. It explains, often with quotes directly from urban youth, exactly what these teens are thinking and going through. They describe what they feel they need in an educator, from their parents, and from authority figures in general.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathleen Cushman spends her time asking tweens and teens questions the rest of us SHOULD make time for. In this book, the voices of middle schoolers unselfconsciously recall us to the impact we have on their day-to-day lives, self-concepts, and levels of engagement. A great book for teachers and preservice teachers about what students need and want in their school lives.

[Juliette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great resource for teachers....I didn't plan on teaching middle school, but the school I was hired at has grades 6-12. This book reminds teachers to really remember what it was like to be in middle school, which is important. I love the title, and the first month of school, there actually was a fire in the boys' bathroom at my school!

[Anthony Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. I feel every middle school teacher should read this! Understanding the thoughts and feelings of students is very important at this age. I remember being confused and scared but ready to take on the world. I encourage everyone to read this!

"Teachers don't know what the kids are thinking, they only make a guess." - Jessica, 7th grader

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are better books out there and I actually had two students who were featured in this book. By legitimizing their comments without really knowing them as students and how they were in the classroom was disheartening. There were other students who were just as needy, behaviorally and academically, but those students made better choices and rose to the occasion.

[Adelaide · Rating 3 out of 5]

ED103. I found this book not so surprising. Middle schoolers want teachers to be lenient but not too lenient, authoritative but not too authoritative, friendly but not too friendly. Excellent. I think the most helpful part of reading the book was trying to remember what it felt like to be in middle school and think about how I can design classroom experiences with that in mind.

[Cori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this one for a class, and as a new teacher, I found it very helpful to get middle schoolers' perspectives on their teachers, which is basically all this book is. Everything they had to say seemed pretty authenitc.

[Lindsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advice for teachers from middle schoolers had some interesting points and some text like informative surveys but overall many points were common sense. Good for a new teacher or veteran to remind them of what life is like "in the trenches."

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for those that teach or want to teach middle school. I felt like the last chapter for the most part didn't apply. It was more about after they transition to high school. It was a relatively short book, if it wasn't for the last chapter I would have given it 5 stars.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of work professional development. The beginning chapter was promising. It is really an overlong article. While many ideas are good reminders for teachers, a lot is repetitive. Still, it allows some insight into the confusing contradiction of the tween mind.