Sunday, March 2, 2014

Feeling a Little Dingy? What's With All Those Bells?

An Excerpt From the Award-Winning Tell-All
Lucy and CeCee's How to Survive (and Thrive) in Middle School 

The first thing you have to get used to in middle are all the bells.  On average, you will probably hear 15-20 bells a day.  Some portend doom and gloom, like that first bell of the day; some portend joy and freedom, like the last bell of the day; and some just mean, Get your butt in gear and hurry up already!  It’s enough to make anyone feel a little ding-y, but you’ll get used to it.  The trick with bells is to use them to your advantage and not be late or tardy, as it’s called in middle school.

Being perpetually tardy is a bad habit to get into.  We know – it’s tough!  Especially when you only have five minutes to make it across the school when the halls are teeming with PDA’ers, stop-n-chatters, and hall huggers.  And top that off with having to use the restroom and going to your locker???  It’s impossible, right?





Actually it’s not.  Here’s how NOT to be tardy:

Before school, plan accordingly.  Have your clothes laid out and take your shower the night before to save time – especially if you’re prone to hitting Snooze in the morning.

There are four pivotal times you must go to your locker: in the morning before school, before lunch, after lunch, and after school.  Going to your locker between your other classes is up to you, but we don’t recommend it because it wastes time.  Try to prepare for two-three classes at a time so you don’t always have to stop.  If you do stop at your locker, try to keep it super organized so you’re in and out quickly.

It’s hard, but dodge the stop-n-chatters and hall huggers.

Try to pack up your things a little early in each class.  Don’t always wait for the bell.

If possible, try to get a seat by the door in each of your classes so you can bizounce the second the bell rings.

Walk briskly and assertively in the hallways.  Don’t do the turtle crawl.

Don’t cyber check between classes.  It’s a bad habit that’s sure to slow down your stride.

If you have to go to the bathroom, do it quickly and between classes where distance is the shortest.

Try to find shortcuts to your classes.  You’d be surprised how cutting through the library or taking a certain stairway can shave minutes off your time.  

If you ARE tardy, walk in quietly and don’t make a big production of it.  Maybe you’ll luck out and the teacher won’t notice.




No comments:

Post a Comment