Well, it is official. I am a 5th grade teacher and I love it.
I’ve only taught two half days. I haven’t even had my third group of kids yet. “Real” school starts Monday with full days. So, I know it is early to say how I feel. Upper grade teachers keep saying, “Just wait.” Honestly, though, I think I’ll keep loving it.
I’ve been teaching for 14 years: the first 4 or so in 1st … a few in third… a few in 1st … and lots in 2nd. I love teaching kids how to read. I even became a trainer for two primary reading programs and traveled to several states to teach teachers how to teach reading. (Say that 5 times fast!) But now I’m teaching 5th grade math and feel at home? It doesn’t all add up on paper, but it fits me.
I’m a logical, math minded person.
I’ll miss watching the little ones have those “Aha moments.” But, for at least the next 3 years, I get to experience something great: I’m teaching several kids I taught 3 years ago. It’s like a snap shot in time.
I have kids that couldn’t sit still to save their lives in 2nd. Now they sit there, cross their hands and smile at me, perfectly still.
Kids that were far below basic in reading and still are…. I see the progress they made. You just read that sentence to me?!?!
Kids that are behavior issues, but improve if you develop a good relationship with them? Relationship already in place.
I had these moments. I’d tell them to do something and THEY’D JUST DO IT. Only a primary teacher can understand the craziness of that statement.
A few times I walked around the room and realized, no one needed my help. No one needed “proximity” to keep them on task. At one point, I just sat down and did what they were doing to avoid boredom.
For the first time EVER, I went home on the first day of school without feeling exhausted.
I’m optimistic about this year. I know the honeymoon phase will fade some and there will be drama. But it’s so calm. There aren’t thirty little jumping beans hoping up in down in their desks. I only had to explain the bathroom procedure once. They put their names and date on their paper without a demonstration. ALL of them. No one cried. No one threw up. No one had an accident. Kids traded dull pencils for sharp ones before I had a chance to explain it. They showed SLANT without an explanation. They sat. They listened. They worked. They turned in their papers all facing the same direction! No one called me “teacher”. No one fell out of their chair. No one hid under their desk. They brought their supplies and knew which were for me and which were for them. And, they understood sarcasm!
Sigh.
I wonder if upper grade teachers that never had little ones realize how good they have it. I do. I’ll appreciate every moment of it. However long it lasts.
Kelly Teaching Fourth says
I have taught 6th, 5th, and 4th grades, and I must say that I love upper grades. Although I have never taught primary grades, I do appreciate that my children can follow, for the most part, verbal instructions. I hope you have continued joy and success in your new 5th grade position. As for myself, after 22 years in upper grades, I could not imagine being anywhere else.
Kelly
Teaching Fourth
Mercedes Hutchens says
I think moving down grades would be shocking for you! Even at the beginning of second I'd be shocked every year by how much I had to show them because it was so different from the end of second.
Layla Wiedrick Henry says
Congrats! I love that you have come into your own in 5th!
Fancy Free in Fourth
Wendy P says
I am so happy to hear you are enjoying 5th gr. I have taught mainly 4th & 5th gr for the last 16 years and 1 yr of preschool. I get what you mean about the little ones being soooooooo squirely. I was so bored with the preschool curriculum but I did teacher every single one to tie their shoes. But my heart belongs in upper elementary… where it is still ok to love your teacher but they do not need you to do everything! Enjoy the new view and independence!
Wendy
4th-5thgradehappiness.blogspot.com
luckeyfrog says
So glad you are feeling so optimistic! 🙂 I switched grade levels and I'm still getting my feet wet, but I'm happy to see you feeling at home!
Jenny
Luckeyfrog's Lilypad
Mercedes Hutchens says
Much of life is how you choose to look at it. If I choose to love something that is different, it helps create a self fulfilling prophecy. I think you'll love 3rd grade. They are little enough to be cute and fun, but old enough to be independent. I used to say the perfect grade level would be the second half of second grade to the first half of third grade. (Spring in 3rd grade always seemed to be full of girls "breaking up" with other girls.) I'm sure you'll feel at home in no time.
Janaye says
SOOOO glad to read about how positive the beginning of school has been for you!! What a fantastic feeling! And as a teacher that it also switching grade levels, it makes ME optimistic! Thanks 🙂
Janaye
Tales of Frogs and Cupcakes
Mercedes Hutchens says
You should be optimistic. You know what you are doing. No matter what age, they are just kids, and you are an experienced teacher who knows what she is doing.