So I am in a New Grade or School Now what?

As the year winds down, there were a lot of changes at the school.  Teachers retired,  some decided to stay at home with little ones, some got promotions and others moved grades, even schools.

Moving grades or schools can be scary.  Especially to a teacher who had taught in their previous grades all their career.   Going to a new grade can be compared to  being a first year teacher.  You are starting fresh.  As with all things we need to reflect and make list to help us make the transition easy.


I have several colleagues that have moved from the primary and intermediate and wonder just how different it is.  In my opinion it is very different.  Intermediate kids are more apt to engage in activities independently.

So I  am moving to a new grade what do I do?

First things first make sure to connect with your new team, exchange phone numbers  or make a point to contact each other and get together during the Summer.

The next thing I would do is get to know the curriculum.  Look at your standards,  what is it that students in the new grade level need to be able to do to be successful in that grade?  What are the Teks?  Look at the new grade level Teks and the Teks from the grade you left.  What is the difference?   What is the depth in which they will have to go in their new grade?  Look at the progression of the skills along the grade level continuum, this will give you incite into what the expectation is from grade to grade.  This can help you to plan for whole and small group instruction.

Thirdly,  Our curriculum is on line and accessible to us year round,  so I print off the first units of every subject that I will be teaching, including the assessments before leaving at the end of the school year, so check and see if you can access the curriculum and resources for what your are teaching before you take off for the Summer.  Plan to read and plan ahead, The worst thing you can do is walk into the class and think you can teach off the top of your heard.

Next, make sure to get a look at your new class, what is already their,  what do you need to make it yours.  I literally sketched out what I wanted my class to look like as well as bulletin boards and anchor charts.

Next,  I would  see what  resources or extra materials I need and start a list.  I definitely wouldn't get rid of my current materials.  It is a possibility that I can use them  in my new grade.

As a teacher, we know we always have a range of abilities in our classroom so you never know you may can use some of the things you already have on hand.

Going from Kinder to an Intermediate  level can be more daunting than going from the third grade to the fifth grade.  As well as  going from the fourth grade to first grade.  All I know is that change can be bad and change can be good.  It is your attitude that will determine which. I  often joke about how administrators should flip staff every now and then.  Primary to Intermediate and vice  versa.  It will first give all teachers the opportunity to experience what happens at opposite spectrum's.  I believe teachers need to experience what it is like to teach in a state testing grade at least once in their teaching career.  The pressures are quite different from primary to intermediate grades.  Having taught both,  I have to say although I love fourth grade, If I was given a chose I would teach a primary  grade.

That is why I believe  that schools should do Vertical planning. What is Vertical Planning?   Vertical planning is where all k- 5 grade teachers  or (6th depending on your elementary school)  of the same subject area, pull their Teks and collaborate and plan.  Everyone reads the Teks above and below their level and list what they notice, and then look across the learning targets for a given topic that all grade levels are teaching in a unit and paint a picture of what that would look like at each level.  Teachers would work to gather to plan  prep. look at  assessments,  and discuss what the expectations for student response would look like across the spectrum.  I believe this is the best way to have consistency in all grades so that teachers want be contradicting what previous teachers taught.  This will eliminate reteaching and frustrating students to learn yet another way to do the same skill they have been doing for several years already.If teachers get together and come up with a set of expectations for certain types of skills such as Main idea, or how to use sticky notes, or journals then students want get confused and teachers want spend time reteaching a new method, procedure or routine.  Teachers have to be willing to put in the work and possible extra time to make this happen.

I often compare teaching to lawyers when people start complaining about all the extra planning that is being required.  How would you feel if your lawyer walked into the courtroom without researching and preparing for your case?  The same for the classroom.  You have to be willing to research and prepare ahead of time.  If we want people to consider us as professionals we have to act professional.So what does this have to do with moving grades?  As you move grades you need to be prepared and to prepare we must study.  you will be able to see the different ways in which a similar topic is taught.  I think staying in one grade too long makes you forget you are capable of teaching other grades,  just like you prepared for the grade you have been in for so long, you do the same  for the new grade you are entering.



The more I type the more I realize how I always say I want to move grades, but I am only certified 4-8 here.  So, I plan to take my primary certification, just to have the option to go to the primary grades.  I have been teaching fourth for 11 years straight.    However, I taught second grade for 5 years  after my 1 year in fourth. I was scared out of my mind.  However, when I got their I just realized that if you set the expectations the students will rise to them.  I held them accountable and they did their part.  I was able to utilize a lot of  my materials.  I just modified them for the grade level.   I studied the curriculum,  I asked questions and I stayed late often to continue to learn and prepare. That's what teachers do modify and adjust.

So when  I was asked to go to second as the model classroom for Reading and Writing workshop.  I really didn't know what that mean.  I studied the curriculum I adapted my approach use the same expectations and then realized  just what I had gotten my self into.  One day my principal walks into my room with a schedule and explains that teachers and principles  would be coming to observe me as I implement my workshops.  I was scared out of my wits, but then I figured I must be good at what I do for my principal to nominate for this position.  I became the model classroom for our district.  I went from dreading teaching a primary kids and saying I don't do noses or tie shoes, to five years later loving it.  The other flip side of this is just moving schools totally, Now I have to familiarize myself with the inner workings of not only my new team, but the school itself, the rest of the staff and the administration.  I equate it to moving from my small country town to the big city.  I had to learn something new, but once I learned it I was able to navigate just fine.

Even though I say change is good and needed for teachers to not become too comfortable because then we become complacent. I think after teaching fourth grade for 11 years that I have grown and learned a great deal to become better at being better at my job.  How?  I constantly study and reflect on my teaching so I can stay relevant.  I try to learn as much as I can constantly about everything, just to avoid becoming to complacent.

So, you're  in a new grade or school.  Think of it as an opportunity to grow and learn.
         
                    Here are my Suggested tips

1.  Ask questions

2.  Collaborate with colleagues

3.  Study the curriculum

4,  Make a to do list, 

5.  Gather a list of resources and material you may need and don't have on hand

6.  Don't be afraid to ask for a mentor

The year has come to an end, but no matter where you start or where you end up.  When one door closes another door opens with limitless possibilities.  My door opened this year.  I revisited my blogs and realized just how much this blog applies to me and so many others I have seen over social media sites, or even my fellow colleagues.  Change is inevitable.  You roll with the punches,  so as I look at my new room and my new curriculum.  I start making my list and answering these questions to prepare for my new adventures.  Good luck to you all.  I hope you find something in this piece that helps you be that teacher you want to be for 2018-2019.