There is a huge difference between girls and boys in junior high. Something I’ve noticed, especially this last year, is that girls are dressing like they’re much older than they are. Most boys in the 6-8 grade are still goofy and mostly innocent and look their age.
As far as energy levels and orneriness boys take the cake. I have to give lots of reminders and redirect them more than the girls. The girls, however, are meaner. Not all of them. Some of them are sweet as pie. But of all the students who I have found mean or spiteful, it’s definitely the junior high girls.
During my favorite assignment as a history teacher for the 8th grade I had a 15 minute seminar at the end of the day. The boys were always goofing around, shooting baskets or talking with their friends. The girls were always trying to go to the bathroom or wander the halls.
I started limiting the number of people allowed to go to the bathroom at once. I have never received so many eye rolls, snide comments, or downright disregard for my words as I have from these teenage girls. Other teachers started sending them back to the classroom, and there was even an announcement made about the 8th graders wandering the hall instead of attending seminar.
There wasn’t a lot I could do outside of leave notes for their teacher or inform the principal what was happening. It was only for 15 minutes, but man… it was a battle.
Redheaded Jill 
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