Introduction

I have taught 1st grade through 6th grade so trust me I have lots of experience in moving grade levels! Now I didn’t do it in numerical order. Starting with 1st grade and then moving into teaching 6th grade. I actually started my teaching career in the primary grades teaching 1st grade and taught 1st graders for 10 years! 

Teaching 1st graders was enjoyable! But the demands of the curriculum began to be too much! In addition, having close to 30 students in the classroom without an assistant was a lot! Next, I moved to 3rd grade, and then 2nd grade. Was placed in 4th grade since the principal thought I would be a good fit for upper elementary. From there I looped with my 4th graders to 5th grade. 

I was teaching 4th grade during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020. During that time, school buildings began to close and transition to online classes. And like many teachers, I felt I didn’t have closure. Especially the kind I usually had with my classes at the end of that school year. And with the uncertainty of the trajectory of the pandemic. I decided to loop with my 4th graders into 5th grade. While teaching 5th grade, I realized I enjoyed working with upper elementary students and thought about teaching middle school. So I made the leap into teaching 6th grade and have been teaching 6th graders for the last 2 years. That is how I ended up teaching grades 1st through 6th grade! 

In this blog post, I will talk about (1) steps to take when moving grade levels. (2) How to transfer your skills to your new grade level. (3) How to get files organized for your new grade level. And (4)  how to modify your classroom management strategies when moving grade levels.

Here are some steps to take when moving grade levels. Whether it was your choice or you were placed in that grade level…

1. Get to know the curriculum: Each grade level has a different curriculum. It’s important to understand the learning objectives and expectations for each grade.

2. If you are at your existing school, see if you will need to change classrooms. Many schools have a primary wing and an upper elementary wing. And from my experience many principals like to group the same grade levels next door to their teammates whenever possible.

3. Knowing whether you need to switch classrooms ahead of time will help you make plans. Hopefully, you’ll be able to move your things in at the end of the school year.  Since many schools require you to pack up/clean up at the end of the year. It’s easier to just get it over with then instead of at the beginning of the school year. If moving to a new school, move your things into your new classroom at the end of the school year. This would be better than at the start of the new school year. It will be one less thing to put on your to-do list!

4. Collaborate with your new teammates: Collaborating with your new teammates is essential! It can provide you with valuable insights and support about this new grade level. And best of all you can share ideas and resources which can help make the transition smoother and more successful!

5. Build a positive classroom culture: A positive classroom environment can help students feel more comfortable and motivated to learn. This can include setting clear expectations, building positive relationships with students, and incorporating fun and engaging activities. Read my blog post “5 Tips For Creating A Caring Community” for ideas on how to build a positive class community. Think about this early. It can help you determine how to structure the physical space of your classroom. This is important especially if you have to change schools or classrooms!

6. Be adaptable: Teaching different grade levels requires flexibility and adaptability. Some teaching strategies may work better for certain grade levels than others. It’s important to be willing to try new approaches and adjust as needed. The good thing is you have prior experience from the grade level(s) you previously taught and can try those strategies!

 Transfer Your Skills To Your New Grade Level

When moving to a different grade level, don’t fret, you got this!  You’re a teacher and your skills are transferable from one grade level to the next one! I learned from teaching multiple grade levels how the curriculum builds upon itself. Which makes changing from primary to upper elementary or middle school more manageable.

Review the curriculum. You will notice how each year’s standards adds to what you have been doing already. Although you are teaching 3rd grade, you may still have students who need those 1st-grade skills you previously taught.

Get Organized For Your New Grade Level

If there is one thing we teachers know is paper and books, ok that’s two things! But I will be talking about paper and how it can take over your classroom. Get a system in place to deal with the amount of paper that can gather in a classroom. It’s never too late to start!

Having a system to organize your files will help you save time and a lot of headaches. Remember it’s ok to throw away what doesn’t work for you anymore. If it’s not working for you now it is just currently creating clutter. 

 Over the years I have had so many papers to file that I am thankful to now use digital files! I have gone from paper files to digital files and digital files are best for me! With my digital files, I file pdfs by subject matter and then file them in three digital folders. I have folders for (1) primary grades, (2) upper elementary grades, and (3) middle school. This makes it easier for me to find materials! 

However, I used folders and a file box when I had paper files. Sometimes I would file things by subject matter or theme. Other times I would file things by month. I recognized that I taught similar things from year to year during the same months. I found filing things by month to be most successful when filing papers. 

However you organize your files make sure you will be able to find your materials. This will also help you understand what materials you may need. This is helpful when switching grade levels. You may have some materials at your current grade level that will work in your next grade level. Maybe it will work for all students. Maybe it will just be a good fit for students performing below grade level or above grade level. Either way, you will already have those resources that you can use and you will know where to find them!

Modifying Your Classroom Management Strategies for Your New Grade Level

No matter what grade level you teach, you need to have classroom management strategies in place! You can use many of the same classroom management strategies with 1st graders and 6th graders. 

Structure and consistency are key, no matter what grade level you are teaching. Start the year off strong with your expectations, procedures, and routines. Don’t hesitate to continue to reinforce these expectations throughout the school year.

All students need to know what the expectations are for them when they enter your classroom. They also need to know if it is okay for them to get up and walk around throughout class. Or do they need permission to walk around the classroom?

Make a list of current classroom expectations, procedures, and routines that you use now. Think about how you may modify them for the new grade level you will be teaching.

Here are some things to keep in mind when working with primary, upper elementary students, and middle school students…

• Be patient and understanding: Primary students are still learning and developing their skills. It’s important to be patient and understanding with them. Take the time to explain things clearly and answer their questions. Remember you will do lots of teacher modeling for primary students. Showing them how to do things step by step.

• Use a variety of teaching methods: Primary students have different learning styles. It’s important to use a variety of teaching methods to help them understand and retain information. Don’t forget to use visual aids, hands-on activities, group work, and small groups!

• Upper elementary students have different needs and interests than primary students. They are usually more independent and can handle more complex assignments and projects. They can also usually work independently for longer periods of time than primary students. 

• You may need to adjust your teaching style and methods to better suit the needs of upper elementary students. Maybe you will do less small group and more whole group work branching off to students working in groups. You may also use technology and project-based learning often in your lessons.

• Middle school students are typically comfortable using technology. You can incorporate digital tools in your lessons. Use them to help keep them engaged and to help provide variety in your classroom.

• Middle school students often have a lot of energy. They need opportunities to move and be active throughout the day. Incorporating movement breaks can help keep them focused and engaged. Hopefully, your school has students transition from one class to the next throughout the day. This really helps to keep the day moving and naturally gives them movement breaks!

Conclusion

Moving grade levels can be challenging but it’s a rewarding experience for teachers. Overall, it provides opportunities for teachers to grow and develop their skills. I know when I first moved grade levels, I thought it was a big deal! But moving grade levels became easier for me as the years went on. 

(1) Just remember the steps I talked about previously to help when moving grade levels. (2) Know that your skills are transferable from grade level to grade level. (3) Be organized with your files. This can help you see what you have and know what you need for your next grade level. And finally, (4) classroom management strategies are necessary for all students no matter what grade level you teach.

Are you moving grade levels this year? Check out my back-to-school bundles!