A Comparison

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:

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:

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!

That would be "hand sanitizer" in case you don't know.

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.

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.

It's August Already?!?

I seriously cannot believe that it's the first day of August.  At my school, teachers head back to work on the 26th.  I always enjoy the beginning of the school year, but giving up my lazy summer days takes some adjusting.  Every year, without fail, back-to-school nightmares start disrupting my sleep.  All of these things serve to remind me that my summer is rapidly drawing to a close.  :( 

As many of you know, though, I have a big change coming this school year.  I am moving from first grade to sixth!

I've had a lot of reactions from people about this.  An overwhelming majority of people are excited for me and have offered their congratulations.  I appreciate this because it was MY decision.  I wasn't "asked" (aka "told') to move.  I didn't have to do it.  It was something I wanted to do.  What I haven't appreciated are the few people who have said, "Are you crazy?",  "Why are you punishing yourself?", "Of all the elementary grades, 6th is my least favorite.", and "Why would you want to do THAT?"

Fortunately, none of you were among those negative Nelly's, but with the school year approaching, I decided I would share why I am moving to 6th grade.  But first, some background as to why I even considered it.  I honestly never wanted to teach above third grade.  Students after that develop real attitudes about school...and usually, they're not good attitudes.  I had been working closely with a sixth grade teacher on our School Wide Positive Behavior team.  One day, during a meeting, he mentioned that the sixth grade was going to need a fourth teacher for the upcoming school year.  Knowing how I felt about the older grades, he jested, "Wanna come teach 6th grade?"  "Uhh...no," was my sarcastic reply. 

I call those my famous last words.

After that conversation, I couldn't stop thinking about moving out of first and up to sixth.

In no particular order, my reasons are listed below:

1. I spent 6 years of my seven-year teaching career in first grade.  I really just felt the need for a change.
2. If I moved, I would be teaching reading.  This is a subject I am highly comfortable with.  Not only do I love reading, but my background of teaching primary reading will be very helpful with sixth grade students who are still struggling.  I will be able to take them back to the basics, if necessary.
3. I taught this group of students when they were in first grade five years ago.  That's a good AND bad thing.  BUT I like that I can see and interact with past students again.  One of my favorite things about teaching is watching my students grow up and seeing what kind of people they become.
4. Independence.  Sixth graders are not needy.  They can do so much more on their own without repeated explicit instruction.
5. Projects.  Because of their independence, they can do much more interesting things to demonstrate their knowledge.
6. I am sick and tired of the reading stories in first grade.  We use a wonderful curriculum in first grade (Story Town by Harcourt).  When we got the reading series during my second year of teaching first grade, I was thrilled.  My first year was chaos.  I had no idea what I was doing.  I finally had a guide.  But after five years of some of the most boring and/or stupid stories ever, I decided that if I had to hear "Little Rabbit's Tale" (to name just one) one more time, I was going to rip off my ears.
7. I am done with the negativity.  Not that everyone is happy and positive all the time.  I know I'm not, but two of the teachers with whom I've worked for a long time have just brought me down.  Every change, certain students, anything that they don't like becomes a HUGE issue.  I've essentially been doing things the way I want anyway because I just don't care what they say.  I need to be somewhere where each thing we're asked to do is not the end of the world.
8. I only need to write lesson plans for 4 reading classes (which can essentially be the same) and one math class.
9. Students can actually help you...effectively.  I could only rely on the best and brightest of my first graders sometimes to help me with certain tasks.  Sixth graders are a bit more reliable. 
10. Change is good, y'all!  Especially when it's change that you've initiated.  Am I nervous?  Yes.  Do I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing?  Absolutely.  Am I overwhelmed right now?  Sure.  But I'm so excited.  

And that, friends, is why I'm moving to sixth grade.  :)