"I could never teach Kindergarten." or "There is no way I will teach in a Middle School!"
How different are they?
Take away the size, the
hormones, the shoe tying, and the ability to get to and from the bathroom on
their own. Are they really that
different?
A very non-scientific analysis:
1) Both Kindergarten and Middle School students are bombarded with new information everyday and expected to remember it and apply it quickly. One group must learn the alphabet, numbers, begin to read and write and draw. The other group must manipulate those numbers, learn about negative numbers and algebraic equations, read novels, and write research papers.
2) They have both entered new environments: new buildings, new rules, new friends.
3) They are both focused on friends: making new ones, keeping old ones. While the middle school student becomes more concerned with looks, didn't the Kindergartner use first impressions to make friends too?
4) Let's talk about those shoes. The Kindergartner spent all that time learning how to tie those shoes. It seems that the Middle School student is in desperate need of a lesson.
A very non-scientific analysis:
1) Both Kindergarten and Middle School students are bombarded with new information everyday and expected to remember it and apply it quickly. One group must learn the alphabet, numbers, begin to read and write and draw. The other group must manipulate those numbers, learn about negative numbers and algebraic equations, read novels, and write research papers.
2) They have both entered new environments: new buildings, new rules, new friends.
3) They are both focused on friends: making new ones, keeping old ones. While the middle school student becomes more concerned with looks, didn't the Kindergartner use first impressions to make friends too?
4) Let's talk about those shoes. The Kindergartner spent all that time learning how to tie those shoes. It seems that the Middle School student is in desperate need of a lesson.
5) Both groups want to be part of a group, any group. No one wants to be alone.
6) While the Kindergartner wonders about the rules of school lunch, the middle school student wonders if anyone will eat lunch with them. So lunch is just a scary time all around.
7) The Kindergartner thinks school is hard. The Middle School student thinks school is hard.
8) First day of school: jitters, nervous, will anyone like me? Will I like my teacher? Can I survive? (Kindergarten and Middle School)
9) Last day of school: I survived! That wasn't so bad. I am big stuff now. (Kindergarten and Middle School)
In between that first day and the last day is also the same. What is there? You. A teacher(s): guiding, prodding, stretching, encouraging, caring, challenging.
I don't know. But it seems to me that when you really look at it, there are more commonalities between the 5 year old and the 12 year old than originally thought.
Now if they would both just pull up their pants.......
6) While the Kindergartner wonders about the rules of school lunch, the middle school student wonders if anyone will eat lunch with them. So lunch is just a scary time all around.
7) The Kindergartner thinks school is hard. The Middle School student thinks school is hard.
8) First day of school: jitters, nervous, will anyone like me? Will I like my teacher? Can I survive? (Kindergarten and Middle School)
9) Last day of school: I survived! That wasn't so bad. I am big stuff now. (Kindergarten and Middle School)
In between that first day and the last day is also the same. What is there? You. A teacher(s): guiding, prodding, stretching, encouraging, caring, challenging.
I don't know. But it seems to me that when you really look at it, there are more commonalities between the 5 year old and the 12 year old than originally thought.
Now if they would both just pull up their pants.......
Best Post Ever. :)
ReplyDeleteI am fully behind your post! I have always thought that the little ones were very comparable to middle schoolers and you have laid it out here perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWhen I made the switch from first to third grade between my placements I thought there would be a clear difference between the grades, which there was. However, I am starting to understand that no matter what grade you are in there are similarities; it just may look a little different depending on the age. Students always struggle with transitions whether it is coming in and getting settled in for the day or packing up and leaving. Children in every grade often become chatty when a teacher is distracted or pauses. Look at our cohort, any chance we get we want to talk to each other!
I have never really thought about comparing Kindergartners and middle schoolers, but I LOVE all that you wrote. It was interesting the way you showed similar issues between the two grade levels just being at different scales.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your post and I agree with all the comparisons especially, the one about shoe laces! That bothers me too. This reminds me of my conversations with my friends when they ask if it gets better when they get older and my answer to them is that it is the same, it is just that the issues are different while feelings of stress and joy are the same.
ReplyDelete