Fifth grade in January is an interesting time of year. We've just had a long break, but we know each other pretty well. We have routines and relationships. But things are changing, and we can all feel it: we visit our middle school in February, which seems early, but it sets things in motion for the middle school to establish their schedule on time for next year.
When we know we're moving on, sometimes we reject the familiar. It's hard to realize what you'll miss until you don't have it anymore. Likewise, when we are worried about something new, sometimes we can only see what we're giving up, because we don't yet know all the good things that will come. In either case, it can make the spring of fifth grade a rather tumultuous stew of feelings. It's an age where students are learning to find boundaries between themselves and authority figures, the wider community, and each other. It's also an age where they begin to understand complex concepts and ideas, and they are often very passionate about addressing these things. Unfortunately, we don't always make enough room to listen to their ideas or passions in elementary school, because we are busy trying to keep them within the routines and systems of that community.
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Jamie Wright
I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of students and families in IA, CT, NC, MO, TX, and Canada. I love being a teacher-librarian! Categories
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May 2024
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