Moving Up Day!
I have a very vivid memory as a child of ending a school year by physically moving to the next grade level. I remember thinking how official it felt…like I had grown up and truly passed that year’s obstacles. I attended St. Isidore’s School, a catholic private K-8 school in Danville California. My principal lined up the student body (one class per grade level) out in the parking lot. Our teacher stood at the front of the line, and when it was time the teacher from the grade level below would escort the students to the rising grade level teacher and pass them off. This continued until the 8th graders moved to the side and celebrated their journey towards High School. I remember feeling sad to say goodbye to my teacher, but excited to meet my new teacher and take on the next grade. Why should K, 5th, 8th, and High School Seniors be the only ones celebrating graduation?
So my school decided to have a “Moving Up Day” in which each class would visit the rising grade level. I escorted my students to a fourth grade classroom and passed them off. Here they met a potential 4th grade teacher (as we have 4), learned about the summer reading and math assignments, and heard all about what life in 4th grade was all about. My students had a blast and even received a gift from the 4th graders. I loved my class and hated to see them go, but I knew they were ready. What a mixed up bag of emotions I had felt!
When the bright-eyed second graders entered my classroom there was a lot of nervous energy. They knew third grade was a huge year with the E.O.G. test and their anxiety was pouring out of their ears. My smile put them at ease and I kept their attention with jokes, a warming tone, and an exciting pep talk. My students left them a note about what third grade would be like and created a multiplication/division booklet so students could get a head start this summer.
The second graders looked up to my kiddos so much so that their faces lit up with excitement upon receiving these gifts! They immediately began to look forward to the fun we would have together next year. I put together Smart Board slides of what the expectations were for third grade and went through the summer assignments. I began reading from “Chocolate Touch” to get them hooked on the project before leaving my classroom. It worked (maybe it was the incentive that they could sit on top of the desks during the read-aloud)! They could not stop talking about my class, third grade, the book, and their overall excitement for being a “big kid.” Before they left my classroom, I had them write down their favorite part of visiting my classroom on Moving Up Day and one cool fact about themselves.
It was invigorating to start over and see the difference between how much my students had grown and where these second graders were to begin. Man, the transformation these students undertake during third grade is unbelievable. They truly begin as babies and leave as mini adults. I cannot believe I have the honor to be part of the process. They truly amaze me.
How do you celebrate your students’ next chapter?
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.
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