Surviving a Grade Level Change: 4 Teacher Approved Tips [episode 136]

Emily  0:37

Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today’s episode, we have four helpful suggestions for making a smooth grade level change and sharing a teacher approved tip for adapting your favorite parts of teaching for any grade.

Heidi  0:51

We start our episodes with a morning message just like we used to do at morning meeting in our classrooms. This week’s morning message is if your most frequently used teacher phrase was your new tattoo, what would it say? These responses are so good. But Emily, what tattoo would you be getting?

Emily  1:10

Mine would probably be on your pockets. Yeah, I feel like I said I said that one a lot.

Heidi  1:17

Yeah, yeah, it all comes rushing back Just hearing that.

Emily  1:20

What about you, Heidi?

Heidi  1:22

I think it would be I’ll worry about him, you worry about you.

Emily  1:28

A classic. That’d be handy to have on a tattoo, you could just point Yeah.

Emily  1:34

We loved the responses from our teacher approved community. Amy’s tattoo would say sit down and she was not alone on that one. Christine’s would say focus. She typed it in all caps so I guess we’re tattoo would all be in caps too. Andrea’s got a question I asked all the time. What are you doing? What are you supposed to be doing? A classic. Yeah, that’s a long one though.

Emily  2:01

Susan’s is make a better choice. That would be a good tattoo. Yeah, it actually would be handy. And we have lots of nice encouraging teachers whose tattoos would say things like, I love you or do your best. But I’d be more likely to get a tattoo like Sherry’s who says what we’re not going to do is. Plus, these ones are much more fun than the nice ones. Let’s be honest. And I think we’d all end up with a tattoo like Angela’s that is just the name of one particular kid.

Heidi  2:30

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. But that’s not a name you want to remember.

Emily  2:33

Yeah. Or like Jen’s, which would be a face with the teacher look in the eyes on one eyebrow raised. You know what I’m talking about now? Right? Like trying to do it right now through the through the airwaves to you.

Heidi  2:46

I think everyone is probably doing that probably driving their cars. Getting weird looks.

Emily  2:50

Yep, how that teacher look never fails. We’d love to hear your most used teacher phrase over in our teacher approved Facebook group.

Heidi  2:59

A big part of the end of the school year routine is finding out what grade you’re teaching next year.

Emily  3:04

Teachers often want to change grade levels because they want an opportunity to grow.

Heidi  3:08

Or maybe they’re looking to get away from a difficult grade level team can’t blame anyone for that.

Emily  3:14

But I think in a lot of cases, teachers get moved whether they want to or not, and they may be going unwillingly.

Heidi  3:21

People outside of education probably have no clue that teachers often get no say no warning, and maybe even no input on what grade they teach.

Emily  3:30

So crazy. But hopefully you’re at a school where the administrator respects teachers voices and takes their preferences into account when possible.

Heidi  3:38

But we have all heard the horror stories of teachers finding out last minute that they’re moving down four grade levels or getting moved after the school year has even already started.

Emily  3:49

Nightmare. It can be really tough out there on these school streets. And whether you are moving by choice or by force, starting in a new grade level comes with some unique challenges.

Heidi  4:01

So today, we have four tips to take any grade level change from stressful to successful. So start us off with our first tip, Emily.

Emily  4:10

Our first tip is to know where you’re going. Obviously, you know you’re going to new grade level, but it’s vital to know what you’re in for when you get there.

Heidi  4:19

I have found that a lot of advice for switching grade levels, says to start by diving into the curriculum, but I’m going to disagree with that. I think the best place to start is by learning the general characteristics of the kids in the grade where you’ll be teaching. And here’s why.

Heidi  4:37

If I’m going from teaching first grade to fourth grade, and I start digging into standards and my teacher manuals, I’ve still got my first grade lenses on. So I’m looking at this new content to the eyes of someone used to teaching six year olds, not 10 year olds.

Heidi  4:52

And that can make things overwhelming and it limits my ability to identify which lessons will be engaging and which might need to makeover. So instead of opening that math book, I think a better bet is to get to know fourth graders first.

Emily  5:07

I love that tip. And if there’s any way to spend some time in the new grade, you’ll be switching to beg your principal to make it happen. That way you can get a sense of what kids at that age are capable of doing.

Heidi  5:19

And one thing to consider if you’re doing this over the summer, is you might want to shadow classes that are kids at the end of the grade level before the grade up teaching. So if you’re going to be teaching fourth grade, you might want to follow around some end of your third graders, obviously.

Emily  5:36

Don’t just start following them around guys. Don’t sue us.

Heidi  5:44

Ask first, then follow maybe some a third grade class around, you can see what the kids that will be coming into fourth grade are ready to handle.

Emily  5:52

Yeah, then you’re seeing them like as they’re going to be coming to you in just a few months. And it’s especially important if you’re doing a big grade jump, going from second to first or second to third isn’t nearly the adjustment as going from say second to fifth.

Heidi  6:07

I did that jump in reverse. I went from fifth to second during my teaching practicum. And then I also went from absolutely crushing it as a fifth grade, new little teacher, to wanting to drop out of the education program, because nobody prepared me for how different those ages are. And then the joke is on me that I then spent 12 years teaching second grade.

Heidi  6:33

But I only took my first second grade job because the person setting up the interview said it was for fourth grade. I knew I could do fourth grade. And I only found out it was for a second after I’d accepted the job. But I guess it all worked out.

Emily  6:46

Yeah, it did work out and now like a second grades the best but Oh, well. We want to help you avoid that culture shock. So do what you can to get to know what’s in store for you.

Emily  6:57

If you can’t visit in person, Responsive Classroom one of our favorite resources has several articles about knowing what to expect at each grade level. They talk about common characteristics of kids at that age and how that impacts your teaching.

Heidi  7:12

They also have books for each grade level if you really want to go into more detail. And we will link to each of the grade level articles and then the books in the show notes.

Emily  7:22

And then once you know your kids, it’s time to get to know your curriculum. Deep dive the core standards, pull out the teacher manuals and get familiar with the lessons. If your new team has a scope and sequence or a pacing guide, fingers crossed, take a good look at those resources. If not start looking online for a version you can use as a reference for your own pacing guide.

Heidi  7:41

You also might want to search for common misconceptions for your new grade level. If you teach third grade where students are comparing fractions, it’s useful to know that students frequently think 1/4 is larger than one half. because four is larger than two.

Emily  7:56

This is important for teachers as well. Sometimes teachers have misconceptions that they pass on to their students. The website achieved the core has a whole series on the most misunderstood math standards in each grade level. We’ll link to that in the show notes so you can check it out too.

Heidi  8:11

Another way to manage your new content is to set up some Pinterest boards. You know, we love Pinterest. Consider a main board for each subject you teach. So you might have a third grade math board and a third grade science board and all of that.

Emily  8:24

Then you can make smaller sections inside those boards for each unit. Your writing board might have a section for Unit One generating ideas, unit two, personal narrative and so on.

Heidi  8:34

It’s so much easier to start organized than it is to get organized later. So setting up the system you want now will be a huge help going forward.

Emily  8:45

Besides figuring out your new curriculum, you also need to figure out your new management plan. The good news is that your foundations don’t have to change.

Heidi  8:54

Right. The hallmark of a good management plan is your philosophy. And that carries over regardless of what age you’re teaching. So that means you just have to adapt particulars. For example, sixth graders probably are not going to be real jazzed to put a magic marshmallow on their mouth before they walk in the hall like your graders. But your general approach to student management really doesn’t have to change.

Emily  9:17

And once you know what to expect in your new grade level, you’re ready for Tip number two, which is manage your resources.

Heidi  9:24

Hopefully, you have some time to thoughtfully pack up your stuff before you need to be out of your room. And then you can take some time to inventory which materials will work for your new grade level and which ones you want to leave behind.

Emily  9:37

Normally we’d probably advocate for clearing out clutter. But if you think there’s a chance that you want to switch back to your current grade level, you probably do want to hold on to things.

Heidi  9:48

Just be sure that what you’re holding on to is worth reusing in a few years. I had this whole debate when I was going from second to preschool.

Heidi  9:57

It’s tempting to store everything Just in case you need it. But in reality, if you are coming back to this grade level in a few years, the stuff you have now might not be something you want to reuse. So only store it if you are certain that you can’t teach without it.

Emily  10:13

Once you’ve decided what you’re keeping be ruthless about clearing out the rest. As teachers, we’ve adapted a scarcity model. And we can see potential in every bit of junk. But be realistic about holding on to stuff just in case when it’s already so hard to organize and store the stuff you actually need.

Heidi  10:31

And if the former teacher in your classroom left behind a ton of stuff, toss as much as you can just as long as it’s not anything that the school actually owns.

Emily  10:40

Yeah, don’t toss anything that the school paid for. But the rest can likely go. And I should have done this because I moved into a classroom where the teacher had moved to sixth grade and she was nearing retirement. And she left me tons of stuff from a lot of years in second grade. And I just wasn’t sure what I would need. And so I kept it all and it used up so much of my cupboard space, so you don’t have to keep it just because it was left for you.

Heidi  11:04

Right, she probably thought, Oh, I’m helping this new teacher out. But I’m just gonna guess that it was very unlikely that your teaching style match that teachers teaching style. So you just end up with a bunch of junk. Yep, do what you can to clear out those abandoned materials, or you are basically providing free storage for another teacher stuff, nobody’s got the room for that.

Emily  11:25

For anything you do keep get to know exactly when and how to use it. There’s no sense in storing that class set of cuisenaire rods, if you don’t know which math lessons they go with.

Heidi  11:35

And if you need some cuisenaire rods or any other materials, that your new classroom doesn’t have them, do what you can do around them up the summer.

Emily  11:44

First, you want to talk to your principal, maybe there are materials in the school somewhere that you can use.

Heidi  11:50

Or hopefully the principal has some money so you can get exactly what you need. Definitely start with the person who controls the spending and then branch out from there. You can try local Buy, Sell trade groups, or maybe a Donors Choose campaign so that you can get exactly what you need.

Emily  12:05

And if you’re not sure what supplies are most useful in your new grade level, ask the teachers who have taught that grade for a while. And that is our third tip for switching grades find your people.

Heidi  12:17

Reach out to the experts around you. Most teachers are eager to help a new teacher find their footing. Hopefully you get a chance to meet your new team before school starts. If no summer meetings are scheduled, you can try starting with an email.

Emily  12:31

It would be nice if the established teachers on the team reached out to the newbie first. But it doesn’t always work out that way. So don’t be afraid to start the introductions yourself.

Heidi  12:40

And like we mentioned earlier, if there’s any way to observe your new grade, try to make that happen.

Emily  12:46

That’s especially helpful if you’re switching schools. Getting a sense of how the lunchroom works and how recess works will make the start of the year so much easier.

Heidi  12:55

And don’t forget the power of virtual support. Look for teachers to follow on Instagram or Tiktok who are in your new grade. And there are plenty of grade specific Facebook groups where you can go for advice and support.

Emily  13:07

Also consider your favorite teacher sellers. If you already know you trust a seller’s resources, see what they might have for your new grade level.

Heidi  13:15

And this can be especially helpful if they have a year long bundles of resources. That is such an easy way to simplify your planning and prep your first year.

Emily  13:24

And just a little plug for the teacher approved Facebook group. We’ve got teachers from all grades who are great to give support and guidance.

Heidi  13:32

Not to mention we sell several year long bundles of resources. If you want top of the line morning work already planned for you. We’ve got first through fourth grade done. And here’s a little surprise, we haven’t announced anywhere. Fifth grade is on its way!

Emily  13:47

Yes, Heidi has been hard at work all the fractions. So think of all the new things you get to buy for your new grade level that will be fun.

Heidi  13:58

Which brings us to our final tip for switching grade levels. And that is to feel your feelings. Maybe you’re feeling excited for a brand new start as a teacher, maybe you’re feeling nervous or resentful.

Emily  14:10

Or maybe you’re feeling all of that at once. This is likely to be a roller coaster of highs and lows. And that’s normal. This is a big transition.

Heidi  14:18

Do what you can to get prepared for the new year, but also make it a priority to enjoy your summer.

Emily  14:24

If you want some support and balancing those two conflicting goals. Make sure to check out our free end of year roadmap where we help you make a plan for supporting back to school readiness without sacrificing your summer recovery.

Heidi  14:37

There’s a link to the roadmap in the show notes. And there are also pages in the roadmap to help you identify which of your many tasks is most worthy of your time and energy. When you’ve got a whole new grade level to prepare for, it’s easy to feel like everything is important, but you simply just cannot do it all.

Emily  14:57

Instead of trying to be an expert right away. Try using one part of the curriculum to focus on, maybe this year, you put your biggest efforts into reading or science. And then you rely on your box curriculum or TPT resources to cover the rest.

Heidi  15:10

Definitely use the materials you’ve been given as you’re starting out. I wish someone had told me that as a new teacher, you can personalize your lessons as you get more comfortable. And it’s okay if it takes a year before you start feeling comfortable with your new grade.

Emily  15:24

Yeah, you likely will feel unsettled for a while, all you can do is take things one day at a time.

Heidi  15:29

Or maybe you would one lesson at a time. Have realistic expectations for how this change will go. But also trust your strengths. You were a good teacher before and you are still a good teacher in this new grade.

Emily  15:42

If a grade level switches in your future, go easy on yourself, you will figure it out. And don’t forget these four tips to help you survive along the way. Know what’s ahead, manage your resources, find your people and feel your feelings.

Heidi  15:59

If you have done a grade level switch before we would love to hear all of your tips about how you manage the change. Come join the conversation and our teacher approved Facebook group.

Emily  16:09

Now let’s talk about this week’s teacher approved tip. Each week, we leave you with a small actionable tip that you can apply in your classroom today. This week’s teacher approved tip is to keep doing what you love. I like the sound of that, fill us in Heidi.

Heidi  16:24

If there are activities or lessons that you love doing with your current grade level, don’t feel like you have to give them that just because you’re switching grades. With some creativity, you can adapt what you’re doing now to make them work for your new students. So if you are moving down to younger kids, you might need to include more support.

Heidi  16:42

So for example, if your favorite thing in third grade was doing reader’s theater performances every spring, you can still do that with first graders. First graders will just need more support than your third graders did. So maybe instead of having small groups of kids performed, you could do a whole class Reader’s Theater. Or you could do one small group performance a week instead of everybody performing at once. So you can give each group the support it needs.

Heidi  17:09

Now, if you are moving at grade levels, do the opposite. Look for ways to adapt your favorite activities that give kids more flexibility and challenge. One of my favorite second grade activities was our Gremlin math game activity. I’m not sure what to call it.

Heidi  17:26

As a class, we made a huge poster of math facts. And then one night the sneaky Gremlin came in and painted over some of the numbers. The kids then had the challenge of figuring out which numbers were hidden. So if we had the strip of paper that said five plus eight equals 13, and maybe the Gremlin painted over the eight, so the kids had had to figure out five plus lache equals 13. They didn’t figure out what the splotch was.

Heidi  17:52

So if I were moving down to first, I could adapt that by narrowing the range of numbers up to 10. If I were moving up to third or fourth, I could do this with multiplication or division facts. Or if I wanted more of a challenge for other kids, I could have them write equations with multiple operations. And then they’d have to figure out how three times five plus giant paint splotch equals 36.

Emily  18:14

And this is also a situation where Pinterest can be useful. Try searching for your favorite activity with your new grade level like stem challenges for second graders. That can help you find lots of resources. Just because you’re teaching a new grade doesn’t mean you have to give up what you love teaching.

Heidi  18:31

To wrap up the show, we are sharing what we’re giving extra credit to this week. Emily what gets your extra credit?

Emily  18:36

I am giving extra credit to the documentary, Butterfly in the Sky on Netflix. It was on Netflix, right? Yes, it’s on Netflix. So and this is the story of Reading Rainbow. Now, if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, like we did, you did not even need us to tell you that because you already knew.

Emily  18:58

And it just talks about the journey of the show through interviews with LeVar Burton, and the staff members and the creators and then there’s really lovely clips from episodes all throughout the story. It was just really interesting to hear how like sort of the rise and then plateau and and eventually cancellation of Reading Rainbow and it made me just actually feel really grateful to have grown up with a show like that.

Emily  19:31

Like, we are so lucky that we had those kinds of shows between Mr. Rogers and Reading Rainbow like we were set up for some really spectacular success having those kinds of shows available to us for free on TV. It’s just such a lovely show. And I loved revisiting it on this on this documentary and you watched it too Heidi, didn’t you?

Heidi  19:53

Yeah, I just finished it yesterday. They had some interviews with the kids that had done some of the book reviews and I will love getting to hear their them talk about their experience coming and filming and what how it changed their trajectory going forward having this experience it was.

Heidi  20:09

It was beautiful is everything you’d want a really human rainbow documentary to be? Yes. Except I wanted them to come back at the end and be like, and now we’re launching..

Emily  20:19

Yes. I loved hearing the adults reminiscing about being the kids introducing the books. And what was fun about it. What was tricky about it, what it what were you saying Heidi?

Heidi  20:29

The one kid that really had to struggle to remember Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge, which is it a mouthful.

Emily  20:37

Yes it is. And I know there was another one who like wanted to come and come across in a different way. So he came to me, like, was talking really emphatically and like it was just so cute. I loved it. I loved it. So if you grew up on Reading Rainbow, and maybe even if you didn’t check out Butterfly in the Sky on Netflix, so good. What are you giving credit to Heidi?

Heidi  20:58

Well my extra credit is going to another of our favorites, it is going to the 2002 classic, The Importance of Being Earnest, which I realize is a lot older than 2002. But it’s it’s definitely talking about the movie from 2002.

Emily  21:10

I love it so much.

Heidi  21:11

Okay so random backstory. I recently helped with a field trip to a Pioneer Village. There was this quartet of singers that were kind of following us around with their guitar. there just weren’t that many people in the park that day. And let me tell you, regardless of how talented the singers are, there’s a limit to the number of times you want to hear She’ll Be Coming Round Mountain. That limit is one.

Heidi  21:37

But anyway, I was laughing because it was just totally reminded me of a scene from The Importance of Being Earnest. So Colin Firth and Rupert Everett are trying to win over the ladies via serenade but the ladies keep walking away. So the men are singing and playing while they’re following these women around. Except Rupert Evertt is playing the piano.

Heidi  21:59

So these poor servants are having to carry this piano around. And he’s just continuing to sing and play completely unfazed by these maids and butler like all this piano round anyway, it’s very silly. It’s very funny. And if you want something like to laugh at, totally check this out. Plus, Judi Dench is Lady Bracknell is just chef’s kiss perfection. She’s so good.

Emily  22:22

Oh, good. Gosh, I love that show. I’ll have to rewatch it. It’s been a little while. But I think about it all the time. And like quoted and, you know, your Christian names are still an insuperable barrier. I still think that all the time. So please go watch it and tell us if you enjoyed it. Or if you already are a fan. We rarely meet Earnest fans these days.

Heidi  22:44

Or if you’ve serenaded anyone with piano, you know, important enough to hear that too.

Heidi  22:49

That’s it for today’s episode. If you are switching grade levels, keep our four tips in mind. And remember that you can adapt your favorite parts of teaching for any age of students.