| Friday, May 22, 2009 | |
 | laker
Forum Rookie | Upper Elementary Teacher
Location: Southern CA
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7 |
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| Saturday, May 23, 2009 | |
| BamaEskies
Forum Rookie | 6th Grade Teacher
Location: Sweet Home Alabama
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1 |
I don't know how the schools and subjects are set up where you live, so I'm describing how it works in my particular school system in Alabama. I was a fifth grade teacher for five years at an elementary school. My classroom was self-contained, so I taught all the core subjects to the same kids all day. I transferred to sixth grade which meant I moved up to a middle school. Now instead of teaching the "big dogs" of the school, I have the rookies. That is a good thing!
In my experience, the maturity level is about the same, so if you can handle fifth graders and their developing hormones, you should be able to easily handle sixth graders. I love teaching one subject as opposed to several subjects. I have six different classes, so if I have a rowdy class, it's easier to deal with it for 52 minutes each day instead of dealing with the same group all day.
I've found that with the students having seven teachers instead of one, parents are more careful (and intimidated). As a fifth grade teacher, I was alone when I met with parents. As a sixth grade teacher, there are usually at least four teachers in a parent conference. The parents have a hard time blaming a specific teacher for a child's behavior when that behavior is seen by several teachers.
In Alabama, students have writing assessments in grades 5, 7, and 10. Now instead of having to teach three modes of writing (narrative, descriptive, and expository), I'm only responsible for persuasive. I'm almost finished with my eighth year of teaching at this middle school and have never regretted my move. Good luck! |
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| Saturday, May 23, 2009 | |
| mb2009
Forum Rookie | 6th Grade Teacher
Location: Pikeville, KY
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1 |
| I love teaching 6th grade. I taught 8th last year. The 6th grade maturity level is really a little more baby than what I am use to but they are much easier to teach! We focus a lot on literary elements and reading comprehension in 6th grade in KY. The 7th grade has writing portfolios which the state is in the process of changing slightly. |
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| Saturday, May 23, 2009 | |
| laker
Forum Rookie | Upper Elementary Teacher
Location: Southern CA
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 7 |
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| Monday, July 13, 2009 | |
| Sarah
Forum Rookie | Middle School Teacher
Location: Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7 |
| I student taught in 7th Grade and then was hired last year as a long-term sub for 6th Grade. I was very nervous about teaching 6th Grade, but had a blast. In the district I work in, the 6th Grade is the first grade at the middle school level. The sixth graders really seemed to hang on my every word much better than the 7th graders ever did. I really enjoyed teaching 6th Grade and was hired a few weeks ago at the 2nd middle school in the district. I will again be teaching 6th Grade and am really excited! In my opinion 6th Graders are really chatty, which is not necessarily a bad thing!! Good luck! |
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| Sunday, August 09, 2009 | |
| hotpepper
Forum Rookie | Middle School Teacher
Location: Ohio
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 4 |
I've taught 30 years, 18 years were in 6th grade, 7 years in 5th. There's little difference between 5th and 6th graders. The 6th graders look bigger and more mature, but are not emotionally that much more mature.
I found 5-7th graders are similar. A BIG difference shows up between 4 and 5th graders and with 8th graders. One year I moved from 5th to 4th grade and thought I'd just be shifting gears a little like when I moved between 5th and 6th. Boy was I in for s shock, it was like the bottom fell out.
Have fun and good luck! |
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| Friday, August 21, 2009 | |
| 6th grade teacher
Forum Rookie | 6th Grade Teacher
Location: Wilkes-Barre
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 23 |
| I taught my first year last year in 6th grade and loved it. In my school 6th is still elementary, the last year for it, and it is nice. My 6th graders were the tutors, the patrols, they had the big trip (nice perk for my too), just to name a few things. You can definitly have fun with them. Just remember never smile before christmas lol. I know my 6th graders were very involved in community sports, football, cheerleading, baseball, and softball were the biggies. Enjoy 6th grade. |
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 Forums : Grade Specific: 6th Grade : Moving from 5th to 6th | |
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