All this week, I've been sharing school-related things. On Monday, I shared the
Top 5 hits from 1988--the year I started Kindergarten. Tuesday was my
classroom set-up for the 2014-2015 school year. Wednesday was my
book review of
The Chronicles of Narnia, and yesterday, I shared some tips that parents should know about teachers. Today, as I'm mere days away from returning to my 6th grade classroom, I thought that I would share some of the differences and similarities between being a first grade teacher and a sixth grade teacher.
Note: ALL of the following pictures are from Pins I've pinned to my "The Life of a Teacher Board" on Pinterest. You can find the links to their original homes there.
Some things are true of teaching both 1st and 6th grades:
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Yes, this happens to me, and yes, it happened in both first and sixth grade. And yes, I usually immediately regret this decision. Therefore, I almost always pick partners FOR my students, thereby crushing their hopes and dreams.... ;0) |
Here are some things that are true of teaching first graders:
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Celebrating the 100th Day of School is a BIG deal in first grade! It was always a day of fun activities. In sixth grade, I acknowledge the 100th day of school, but the day continues as usual. I do, however, start my end of school countdown on this day! |
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That would be "hand sanitizer" in case you don't know. |
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I loved doing cute and fun science lessons with my first graders. I thought this one about the butterfly life cycle would have been really cute! I am not (and do not want to be) the sixth grade science teacher. |
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This was one of my first grade pet peeves. I would often tell students that I would call on students who were sitting in their seats quietly with their hands raised. In contrast, sixth graders would prefer that I stay as far away from them as possible. ;) |
I do miss teaching first grade sometimes. I miss how excited they are at Christmastime. My last year in first grade, I had an Elf on the Shelf, and I had so much fun placing him in the classroom for the kids to find when they arrived. I miss that I could use the simplest gifts as rewards, and they thought they were absolute treasures. I miss that they loved me unconditionally! But I don't miss runny noses, the reading curriculum, or how I had to go-go-go to be "on" for these little ones.
I like that sixth graders are independent. They don't need me every single second of the day. I like that they can work independently with mostly
guidance from me. I like that we can carry on great conversations and that they understand my sarcasm. I do wish they cared a little more about their grades, and that I didn't worry they may call me nasty names behind my back when they're unhappy with me. But overall, I am truly happy to be preparing these students to head off to junior high.
2 comments:
That first quote is so true, I always call them "my kids." I teach kindergarten now and I can relate to your first grade stories, but sixth graders scare me a bit, they are just so tall!!! But on the other hand the independence would be awesome!
I always thought that second grade was the one grade I wanted no part in. Well, I survived it and now I'm convinced (after last year's observations) that 1st grade is the grade I want no part in lol.
We have a very complex system for shoulder partners (desks are organized by ability level) and 1s and 2s. 1s and 2s sit across from each other.
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