The Middle

School...

It's challenging, demanding, and takes a whole lot of work,

And it can be hard on your kids, too.

Jeez, Brick, what do you got in here?

This thing weighs a ton. Well, I told you, there's been a measurable increase

In workload now that I'm in third grade.

It's really cutting into my reading time.

Okay.

Chicken nuggets...

Piles of popsicle sticks...

Oh! An ant farm.

Oh, sorry. Ant cemetery.

You got a "D" on your math test?

You don't get D's.

Eh, what are you gonna do? I'll tell you what you're gonna do, Brick.

You're gonna study.

Math is very important in life. You use math in everything...

Oh, even I can't say it like I believe it.

Hey.

Hey. Look at this... a "D."

- Axl, get in here! - This is Brick.

Really? What happened, buddy? You don't get D's.

We're kinda countin' on you to pull up the family average.

I'm reading at an eighth grade level.

Why can't I please you people?!

Just reading isn't gonna get you into college.

Oh, I'm not going to college.

I've decided to live with you guys forever.

Forever.

Well, mike, you know what this means, don't ya?

Oh, jeez.

We're gonna have to help Brick with his homework.

In our house, helping with homework

Is something that's never gone well.

Write it down.

Write it down. Why aren't you writing it down?!

Just write whatever you want! I don't care!

It's not my homework! It's your homework!

Well, this time, we're just gonna have to make it fun.

Write it down. Write it down! Why aren't you writing it down?!

That's not how Ms. Rinsky told us to do it!

- Well, how did she say to do it then? - I don't know!

- Just write it down! - We're supposed to show our work.

Well, you didn't do any work! I did.

You should show her a picture of me.

Are you sure there's not some other instructions that

Were sent home or something, something you might have lost? Oh, yeah. You know what? There is.

There's a big ol' packet of instructions with

All the answers to everything we'd ever want to know,

And I've been hiding it from you.

Well, go get 'em! Mom!

Oh, no! It's your turn to go help aunt Edie and aunt ginny.

I went last week. Yeah, but last time, I accidentally drank

- From their denture cup, so that should count for two! - I'd say three.

If aunt Edie asks me one more time

If I've had my BM... Why does she care?!

You know what? You two should be ashamed of yourselves.

You should want to go over there and soak up every bit of wisdom

You can get from them!

If I were you, I would consider it a privilege! Then why don't you go?

Because I'm trying to teach you to respect your elders...

And I did my time. And you know what? Since you're fighting about it,

You're both going. That's not fair!

Ohh, no! I don't want to hear another word. Go.

No! I don't... ohh!

We're useless, mike.

We can't even help our kid with third grade math.

Well... maybe you should go

Talk to his teacher and get him some help.

We were both banned, but I was banned first, so you have to go.

Oh, I was banned last, so you should go. Okay, you know what?

The first person to get the answer to the next problem

Doesn't have to go talk to Ms. Rinsky.

Deal. "Two trains are leaving the station at the same time..."

Fine! I'll go.

What was I worried about? It had been months

Since I last saw ms. Rinsky. She might not even remember me.

Hi. Ms. Rinsky. Frankie Heck. Brick's mom?

Ohh. Not today.

She remembers me.

Would you like me to come back another time?

No. Sit. Talk.

Unburden yourself during my limited free time.

Okay.

Well, see, Brick got a "d" on his math test.

Sometimes kids get D's, but not your son.

Oh, no. He has to be perfect

At every single thing he does, right, mommy?

I...

You know, ms. Rinsky, you're very funny.

Brick never mentioned how funny you are.

Are you helping him with his homework?

Oh, . No. He does it all himself.

He's getting a "d." maybe you should help him.

Oh, no. We do. We do. We totally do.

It's just that we can't help him,

'cause we don't really understand it ourselves.

Okay, okay. I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm going to set aside some extra time...

An evening next week...

To teach parents a math class.

Oh! That would be so...

Wait. What? A class for parents?

Is there a problem?

No. That just sounds like a lot of work...

For you.

Welcome, parents. I'm sure we're all thrilled

To be here on a night when "the mentalist" is on,

But tonight we're gonna learn... excuse me. Ms. Rinsky?

How wonderful. An interruption.

Should we take notes, or will there be handouts?

There'll be handouts. Now as I was saying...

I'm gonna take notes anyway, just to be safe.

Brought a fresh notebook.

Oh, boy.

What? Is that who you were in school? You were that person?

What person?

"ms. Rinsky, should we take notes?"

You know, the suck-up, the goody-goody, the narc.

Well, if we have to be here, mike,

I want to make the most of it,

And actually, I was very cool in school.

Okay. I was.

Okay. I was.

Am I gonna have to separate you two?

Please.

Let's face it, to teenagers, old people are like

Alien life forms from a faraway galaxy

They don't really want to visit.

How are things going in school?

You're... yo in...

What, the second grade now?

Uh-huh. Eighth.

I'm actually working on a really big science project right now,

So that's why we have to leave

In a little less than 14 minutes.

When I was your age, I used to love school.

I remember once we had to do this time capsule...

You know, fill it with important things

And bury it in the backyard

So we could dig it up when we were grown.

Really? And... and did you? Did you dig it up?

Oh. Moved before I could.

What a shame.

You know, I think of it every day of my life.

You have?

Oh, my god. That's so many days!

So if you look at number five in your handout,

Using the chunking strategy, what is the answer?

74. 112.

Excellent...

Mostly everybody.

Here. Let me show you. You're thinking addition. You need to...

I don't need your help. I can do it myself.

Nice job, mr. Heck. You get it.

Well, now that you explained it, it's comin' pretty easy.

"now that you explained it,

It's comin' pretty easy."

Axl, ever since we got home,

I can't stop thinking about aunt Edie.

That bone spur thingy on her foot?

No, but ew. You know what we need to do?

We should totally take her to dig up that old time capsule!

Yeah, I'd love to drive my dor sister

And senile aunt around, then dig hole. Let's go!

Axl, you need to start thinking outside of yourself!

Look at beyonce she has every reason

In the world to be selfish, and she still gives back!

Wouldn't it be amazing if we could find the capsule

For aunt Edie and make her dreams come true?! Sorry.

My time is way too valuable. Hoo! Ha! Hoo-ha-ha! Hoo!

Oh! I know this one!

Ha! I got one before you.

Oh, so you finally got one, did you, dear?

Why don't you come to the board and show us your work?

No, no, no. I'm good.

I wasn't asking.

Okay.

The answer is 185,

So you need to add or subtract to make 10s.

146...

Plus 4...

Ahem. Equals...

150.

39 plus 1 equals 40.

Okay, wait. Um... I'm supposed to be chunking, right?

I'll just... Start it all over.

Okay.

Talk amongst yourselves, people.

You don't have to be quiet for me.

This is silly. I know this. I really do.

I mean, come on. It's third grade math.

Then it shouldn't take long, dear,

Because once you get this right, we can all go home.

Carry the 1... The 1... Carry, uh...

Did you know I can name every president in order?

George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson,

James Madison, james Monroe...

James Madison...

James Monroe...