How to ROCK your Grade-Level Change like a PRO!

So you’ve been told you’re changing grade levels. OR you requested a change yourself. What’s next?

Well, first off, don’t worry or be nervous. This could end up being a fabulous change for you and a great experience; you never know!

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Don’t be nervous!

I had numerous experiences changing grade levels during my 17 years as a classroom teacher. In case you don’t know, I was a teacher and then an assistant principal, then a principal prior to retiring (with 14 total years in administration).

Some of the changes were decided by my administrators, but a few were changes that I requested myself for one reason or another.

Get your FREE Classroom Routines Checklist.

If you would like a Class Routines Checklist while you consider how to begin preparing for this different grade level, you can access it here.

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In each instance, I “grabbed the bull by the horns” (so to speak) and jumped right in.

Jump Right In AND DO IT!!

Here’s a quick list for you to consider:

• Try to get access to the TE’s for your new grade ASAP!!
• Take the time a few days each week to review each subject areas’ TE.
• Research the state standards (or Common Core Standards) for the new grade level.
• Decide if you need to tweak your routines for the following; paper collection, grading, restroom visits, behavior standards and rules, rewards and consequences, textbook and paper management, etc.
• Text or email a colleague at your school from that grade level and ask to meet for coffee for an informal discussion about that grade.
• See if there is a teacher in that grade level that you can buddy up with; use this contact for issues with behavior, etc.
• Find out if the grade level plans together or helps one another in any way.
• Decide how you will arrange the classroom and what you will post on the walls and bulletin boards.
• Will you need to purchase or create things for these new boards?
• Look through Pinterest and other online resources for ideas and content.
• Ask the office if there is any standardized testing dates or schedules for that new grade level that you might not be aware of.
• And lastly, consider bringing the grade level team a little treat such as cookies during Teacher Report week (prior to the students returning.

Here’s a cute story about my grade level change.

This incident happened the year I switched back to first grade after having spent three years in 6th grade. It was the first week of school, probably Thursday or Friday AND it was the end of the day. I was having the students prepare to go home by putting their chairs on their desktop (which was standard for our district) and having them pick up trash from the floor.

My instructions to the class were; “OK, everyone, it’s time to pick up the floor and get ready to go home.” You see, this was what I had been saying to 6th graders for three years, so it naturally came out of my mouth at the end of the day.

Most students got busy putting their chairs up and picking up stray crayons and pencils and little bits of paper.

One little first grade student walked quietly up to me and poked me in the leg, and said: “Teacher, how do you pick up the floor?” He literally thought I meant to lift the floor off the ground.

I got this huge smile on my face and leaned down and told him I meant all the items that were on the floor near his desk like crayons and bits of paper. He said “OK” and walked off.

I had forgotten how literal first graders are; don’t speak figuratively to them.

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How can you avoid making my mistake?

If you are moving up or down just a few grades or less, your behaviors won’t need to change too much. BUT if you are moving up or down more than three grades (like my experience above) you need to concentrate on changing out how you speak to the class.

For older students, you don’t want to talk to them like they are babies. And like my experience, you don’t want to speak too figuratively to little kiddos.

With Kindergarten and First Graders, in particular, you want to be sure to be very detailed in your instructions.

It only takes one time of saying; “Let’s line up now” and have 24 students running to the door. Instead, you should say “Students, I am going to call tables (or rows) to line up in a minute, so clear your desk and let’s see which table is ready first.” Or, something along those lines.

I have confidence that you will ROCK this grade level change.

Just do the best you can to prepare ahead of time.

Until Next Time,

Your Teacher Buddy