Middle School Culture and Classroom Experience

Vocabulary and key phrase flashcards covering modern middle school slang, historical student trends, and common middle school teacher experiences.

"That's CAP!"

A middle school phrase meaning that you are not telling the truth.

"SIX SEVEN!"

A phrase yelled by students that means absolutely nothing specific, and somehow that's the point.

Negative aura points

A slang phrase indicating that you have lost some imaginary coolness points.

"Let him cook!"

An expression used by students meaning to give someone a chance because he might be onto something.

Folded notes passed across three rows of desks

The method students in the 1990s used to communicate secretly during class.

Trapper Keeper (organized)

The item with every folder perfectly organized that would have made someone the most popular middle school student in 1988.

"Take out a sheet of paper" (1995)

A teacher prompt that triggered a chorus of three-ring binders opening and someone inevitably needing to borrow paper.

"Find a partner."

The most dangerous sentence a middle school teacher can say.

"You have TWO MINUTES to finish."

A teacher's phrase that students interpret as: "It's time to pack up, stand by the door, and begin my weekend."

Mysterious middle school phenomena

Classroom occurrences including 30 pencils disappearing before lunch, students asking "Are we doing anything today?", and students hearing a candy wrapper open from across the room but failing to hear their names.