The following is true for 7th graders at the beginning of the school year:

1.) They don't know how to stand in a line, walk in a line or stay in a line when asked.

2.) Not unlike their counterparts in elementary school, they will squeal if any living creature should appear in the classroom (i.e. spiders, bees, flies, beetles etc.)

3.) Even after the teacher has removed said insect, they will still have to discuss, compare and reflect upon the insect's visit to the classroom.

4.) Much like their younger counterparts, they cannot sit still in a chair for more than 30 minutes; it is physically impossible, apparently.

5.) The moment they return from lunch, they will need to use the bathroom. They will roll their eyes, and sigh in disbelief when you tell them they should have used the bathroom during their 40 minutes of lunch/recess.

6.) They will forget their day planner in the "other teacher's" class. They will roll their eyes and sigh in disbelief when you tell them they can't go back and interrupt "the other teacher's" class to get their day planner.

7.) They think sharpening their pencils down to numbs is absolutely fantastic; they will leave the pencil shavings all over the floor and table. They will roll their eyes and sigh in disbelief when you tell them to clean up the shavings.

8.) They will think having to trade their shoe as collateral in order to borrow a pencil from the teacher (when they "forget" theirs) is the most hilarious and fantastic thing ever.

9.) They will use too much tape to cover their books, will jam the stapler when turning in their assignments and will have to use the three-hole punch several times before they get the holes in the right spot. The will leave tape mess, ruined staples and the little hole remnants all over the table. They will roll their eyes and sigh in disbelief when told to go back and clean up the mess they made.

10.) If there is a hanging sign, a door jam or anything above their head; they will jump and slap it; they have to, it's just part of their genetic code. They will roll their eyes and sigh in disbelief when told to please NOT jump and slap things.

11.) They will do anything for candy.

12.) They will magically find it in themselves to sit quietly and pay attention for a lesson, if promised the ability to play a game when finished "learning." They will never discover the game is also educational.

13.) They will believe anything you say and will laugh if you do anything physically entertaining (like rolling your eyes or sighing in disbelief REALLY LOUDLY in their general direction.)

14.) They will NOT understand sarcasm.

15.) They are basically still pretty innocent.