I teach fifth graders. They are free-spirited, opinionated, hilarious, and often a mess all at the same time. They still love their teacher (at least for the first half of the year) and they want to work hard to prove that they are ready for middle school.
I have; however, discovered something interesting about fifth graders. They are amazing role models to the younger generation. If you have every taught fifth grade, I am sure you are about to roll your eyes at me, but hear me out!
For the past eight years, a kindergarten teacher and I hold a weekly half hour book buddy session.
1. Read books to one another
2. Go on letter hunts on the playground
3. Draw pictures in chalk on the sidewalk to match their letter of the week
4. Create holiday crafts
5. Listen to a read-alouds together
6. When the Scholastic Book Fair rolls around, my fifth graders are there to help their book buddies write down book titles on their “wish list.”
- My fifth graders quickly realize just how.much.energy. kindergarten students actually have.
- When students come to me in fifth grade, they talk about the book buddy that they had when they were in kindergarten and still remember their name!
- When they see each other in the hall, both sets of kids wave frantically as if they have seen their best friend. You would THINK that a fifth grader would be too “mature” for this, but everything goes out the window when it comes to that little 5 or 6 year old!
- I have watched the most challenging students in my class turn into different kids when they are with their book buddies. They treat them like a little brother or sister and want to teach and protect them.
