Are you one of those teachers that are switching grades this year? Me too! In fact, I’ve switched positions every year I’ve taught.
I officially began my teaching career as an ESL (English as a Second Language) certified teacher, working with multiple grades. I fielded questions about the new Amplify Curriculum our district started using, cotaught in several classes, and provided supplementary materials for instruction.
**Check out some of these resources here, at my TPT Store!**
It only took a year for me to realize that I wasn’t seeing the whole picture. How could I really help teachers the most? I knew I couldn’t answer that question until I jumped in to teaching my own classroom.
Staying at the same elementary school, I applied to be a 4th grade teacher. I got the position and WOW what a difference!
After a year of 4th grade, I had planned on moving up to 5th grade this year. There were some calls made by the district however, and I was placed in 1st grade this year.
Now that I’ve switched yet again, I want to share some insights.
Classroom Management is Crucial
No matter the grade level, having a consistent, understandable system for rules and procedures is absolutely necessary. This includes:
- When it is/isn’t OK to use the bathroom
- When to sharpen pencils
- Expected behaviors during instruction and work times
- How and where they should line up
- Hallway expectations
- Bathroom behavior expectations
- Where to put finished work
- When it is/isn’t OK to get out of their seats
And so on.
**Read more about Classroom Management here**
I thought some things would be different in 1st grade. After all, the students are much younger, and the expectations and needs are different. I must admit, even I was tempted to lower my standards for the little ones in my classroom. Let them be a little louder, a little more squirmy, a little more crazy. After all, they are so young! What could I expect?
BUT… I thought and thought about my 4th graders last year. They were so sneaky and so out of hand, I had to wonder about how well they had been held to a high standard.
Long story short, I couldn’t help myself from keeping the bar extremely high (and it’s yielding GREAT results–every day is easier and easier this year already!)
In the end, it doesn’t matter what grade you teach. Students need rules and expectations that are firm. You cannot “take it easy” on them because they are younger. Firm rules now will help them succeed more in the future. So start having really high expectations, no matter what grade you change to.
Hands-on Activities are Good for All Ages
It doesn’t really matter if you are teaching 5-year-olds or 12-year-olds or 75-year-olds, nothing beats a good visual, hands-on approach to learning.
My first week of math with 1st grades has been like pulling teeth. LONG, LABORIOUS, and just plain TERRIBLE.
No one had fun in math time. That is, until today!
Today, we did a hands on activity that practiced the skills we needed to learn today, and students got to learn by DOING. That got them interested. It got them involved. And I saw more growth and learning than I had seen all week. It was very exciting.
I reflect on my 4th grade and ESL teaching experiences, and I realize the same thing. The lessons and activities that were engaging and practical (and hands on and visually interesting) were the best teaching moments I had.
**Know of some great 1st grade hands on math activities?? Please share them! Comment below!**
The Major Difference in the Grade Switch
4th graders already knew all the attention grabbers. Yes, they may have laughed at them, or whispered a few more words after the call to attention, but they understood that once the attention grabber was spoken, they would need to listen.
I am finding that my 1st grade class is rather different. I give an attention grabber, and sometimes they respond and then continue talking.
It really caught me off guard the first week of school. These students were not prepared to be at school to listen or learn. All they knew was talk and have fun!
It would make sense that the students who are in younger grades still have yet to be trained in school appropriate behaviors and expectations. That comes with time and consistency with classroom management.
So, that is what we are working on. Building those necessary foundations strong, so that these students do not need to wonder what they are expected to do at school, or how they are expected to behave.
My Thoughts about Switching Grades
It wasn’t as insane of a switch as I thought it would be. I do need to be clear about my expectations, we do need to practice procedures consistently, and I have to lay a good foundation for their future. But, looking back at my other years of experience, that’s true of any grade and any age.
I expect I will be making more hands on resources to help with the students as they learn math and English in class. Stay tuned to my store for more to come!
If you have anything great to share, I want to read it! Comment below!
