Reflections of a Fifth Grade Teacher

Teaching is eclectic.  That’s a three-word sentence with a long explanation.  What other profession asks me to also serve as a secretary, bookkeeper, nurse, guide, cheerleader, motivator, photographer, tech guru, psychologist, mediator, guardian, and so much more.  Yet at the Ashford School I don’t have a single colleague who would choose to do anything else other than teach.  This is our chosen profession.  This is my chosen career.

            After more than 30 years of teaching, I’ve finally come to the realization that I’m a veteran teacher.  Wow!  Four years in sixth grade, five years in seventh and eighth grade, twenty-two years in fifth grade, and they keep renewing my contract for another year.  So I keep coming back and doing what I love doing; helping my students through the uncertainty of new topics to the light of understanding, to the moment of “aha”.  Don’t get me wrong.  It doesn’t always work out so neatly.  But I never stop working toward that goal.  And, although I typically shy away from giving advice, I’m now inclined to give it as more colleagues, parents, and others ask for it. 

            So what would I tell parents whose elementary school-aged children are now on vacation and looking forward to, or anticipating, or dreading the new school year?  I would say what I have said for many years.  You are your child’s first teacher and your preparation work at home goes a long way toward the long-range success of that child.

            Involvement with your child on a daily basis is extremely important.  Spend “quality” time with him or her.  Play games that include an educational component, let your child be physically active whenever possible, and read with and to your child on a regular basis.  Spend time discussing what you read by asking more than just literal questions.  Try higher order thinking skills.  ‘Why do you think that character made the choice they did?’  ‘Do you know someone who is like that or who would do the same thing?’  ‘What would you have done?’  The most important aspect of your involvement with your child is the regularity.  It’s expected and it’s part of your family ritual.  So what’s part of your family ritual with your children?

            Finally, let’s talk about the anxiety of the first day of school.  Kids are people too.  They need the reassurance that going into the unknown isn’t as bad as they might make it out to be.  I’m about to start my thirty-second first day of school, and I still get anxious and excited about that day.  Why would I expect kids to be calm and confident on day one?  Why not talk to them about it?  Find out what their biggest fears are and reassure them that they will survive and be successful if only they show up and give it their best efforts.  The first thing I do on day one is learn about my students as they learn about me.  After all, they will be my family for the next ten months and I want all my students to have a sense of community, belonging, and respect.  Shouldn’t we know a little more about each other and be glad to be where we are before we embark on that educational journey?