Was 6th grd harder for your child?

[imgoingtodisney]

This is the yr that DS officially enters Middle school. OK cos of the way the schools are now set up he entered middle school last yr but workwise it gets heavier starting with 6th grd.

Have you noticed a difference in this grade with the homework/teachers expectations/etc? Will he finally need to apply himself?

 

[JDY]

It shouldn't be too bad for him. I can't believe he started middle school in fifth grade! With any luck, he'll have support at home (which he seems to) and great teachers (like me) and that will make all the difference.

I think we need to go back to the jr high sr high concept -

k - 6 Elem. School
7 - 9 Junior High
10 - 12 Senior High

In sixth grade (let alone 5th) students aren't ready for changing rooms. In ninth grade students generally are not mature enough to be in high school.

just my 2 cents

 

[tkd lisa]

My DD is in 6th grade this year too. I do think it's harder. They have to deal with so many more teachers, and keep everything organized. It's a major adjustment.

 

[Credit Man]

I agree. My DS started 6th grade this year too. He seems to be adjusting well so far.

 

[Kitty 34]

Yes, at our school 6th grade is a lot harder than 5th grade. Definetly more homework and with 7 different teachers instead of one main 5th grade teacher, there's different expectations that children need to learn.

Also, changing classes all day long, children need to learn organizational skills quickly. That was very hard on my DS!!

 

[Cindy B]

I started changing classes in fourth grade... I thought that was normal!


I work with 6th graders at a middle school. Yes, I see them all day long, and you do need to learn some things very quickly.

The two skills that need to be honed right away is time management (one minute to change classes!), and organizational skills.

So far my team hasn' given much homework besides math.. (and I understand why math needs the HW!). Humanitites has had one small assignment, Science one small assignment, and reading some in LA.

The team tries to get a lot done during class,so whatever isn't finished during class time, it becomes homework.

 

[piratesmate]

DD started middle school last year with 6th grade. She had never needed to "apply herself" in K-5 & in 6th one of the biggest difficulties was the amount of work. Each teacher assgned large amounts nearly every night. She had to give up nearly all of her extra-curricular activities. She only made it to her TaeKwon-Do classes about once a month.

By far the worst problem, however, was that assignments were made without any explanation. eg. A sheet was sent home one which they were to ID direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition, etc. No definitions appeared on the sheet & none was given in class. (verified with other students) AFTER the work was done, they went over it in class & were told what the definitions were. The grades on the work were straight % and not weighted.

This type of thing kept happening all year...with all her teachers. We'd heard that 6th was the worst - but the heavy work didn't really start until late Sept. This year, she had MAJOR homework in each subject starting the 1st day. It's a shame she can't just be 'kid!"