Teacher Talk Tuesday
Well folks, I've officially been a 5th grade teacher for 4 months now and I think I can also officially state some similarities and differences between first grade and fifth grade.
Differences:
1. You can be sarcastic with fifth graders.
2. I get a lot more accomplished in a day with my fifth graders because they work independently. I had a hard time with this at first because I thought I wasn't fully doing my job but now I realize this is part of getting older, they have to learn to work and understand things on their own. On the other hand though, my days in first grade flew by which isn't the same everyday in fifth grade.
3. First graders are a lot funnier day-to-day.
4. In first grade you focus as much on social behavior as you do on academic behavior. In fifth grade you focus as much on organization and responsibility as you do on academics. I'm finding I have more patience with social guidance than I do for organizational guidance.
5. I can finally teach at the end of the day! First graders check out by 2:30 at the latest but fifth graders... we can go until the bell rings. They are, however, much sleepier in the morning.
6. Planning has been a huge adjustment. Fifth grade lessons take a lot longer than first grade lessons.
7. I see a lot less tears in fifth grade. and go through a lot less band-aids.
Similarities:
1. Fifth graders still forget to sign up for lunch every.single.day.
2. Fifth graders need their names written in their belongings just like first graders.
3. Fifth graders love praise, and need it, as much as first graders they just show this need in different ways.
4. Read aloud is the kids favorite part of the day. It's still mine as well.
I'm sure there'll be more along the way but I have to say... I'm definitely feeling more comfortable as a fifth grade teacher everyday.
Differences:
1. You can be sarcastic with fifth graders.
2. I get a lot more accomplished in a day with my fifth graders because they work independently. I had a hard time with this at first because I thought I wasn't fully doing my job but now I realize this is part of getting older, they have to learn to work and understand things on their own. On the other hand though, my days in first grade flew by which isn't the same everyday in fifth grade.
3. First graders are a lot funnier day-to-day.
4. In first grade you focus as much on social behavior as you do on academic behavior. In fifth grade you focus as much on organization and responsibility as you do on academics. I'm finding I have more patience with social guidance than I do for organizational guidance.
5. I can finally teach at the end of the day! First graders check out by 2:30 at the latest but fifth graders... we can go until the bell rings. They are, however, much sleepier in the morning.
6. Planning has been a huge adjustment. Fifth grade lessons take a lot longer than first grade lessons.
7. I see a lot less tears in fifth grade. and go through a lot less band-aids.
Similarities:
1. Fifth graders still forget to sign up for lunch every.single.day.
2. Fifth graders need their names written in their belongings just like first graders.
3. Fifth graders love praise, and need it, as much as first graders they just show this need in different ways.
4. Read aloud is the kids favorite part of the day. It's still mine as well.
I'm sure there'll be more along the way but I have to say... I'm definitely feeling more comfortable as a fifth grade teacher everyday.
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