Classroom Management
When I was in graduate school, I took a class on school facilities. Our instructor told us that, for most schools, the single deciding factor in determining which grades will be elementary and which will be middle school is space. Where is there room to put the kids? That’s too bad, because all students should be educated in the facility that best serves their developmental needs. And for 6th graders, this haphazard way of determining campus placement could have particularly serious ramifications.
It’s a tricky age, 6th grade–no longer little but not yet teenagers. Sixth graders are at an age that can be extremely challenging, confusing, and stressful, and the environment in which they are educated can have a profound effect on the rest of their school career. So where do they belong? If their place could be determined by developmental appropriateness and not logistics, do they belong in middle school or elementary school?
As a 6th grade teacher and the mom of four kids who have all survived 6th grade, I am firmly on Team Elementary School. But there are plenty of moms and teachers out there who would disagree with me. I’ve informally polled friends and various teacher groups, and these are the factors favoring each option.
Teaching 6th Graders in Middle School
1. Middle schools offer more electives and extra-curricular options.
Band, choir, art, sports–-middles schoolers often have more opportunities to pursue their individual interests than elementary students. At an age when kids are trying to figure out who they are and what they care about, this can be important. And finding their “thing” can be a real confidence booster–something most 6th graders need.
2. Some state standards are designated simply as middle school standards.
In some cases, rather than having separate standards for each grade, state departments of education lump all 6-8 standards into one category–middle school. Often they make no distinction between a 6th-grade skill and an 8th-grade skill. It’s up to teachers to figure it out and align with other middle school grades. Without 6th graders in middle school, this type of alignment could prove quite difficult if not impossible.
Not only that, but some textbook companies market their materials for grades 6-8 without breaking down their materials by grade. Using these textbooks requires a lot of collaboration between 6-8th grade teachers which would likely not happen were they on separate campuses.
3. Sixth graders need more specialized instruction.
Often elementary 6th grade classes are self-contained. However, since the standards for 6th grade tend to be more complex, it is extremely difficult for one teacher to cover all core subjects. Sixth graders might benefit more from teachers who specialize in math, science, literacy, and social studies. And they are more likely to receive that kind of specialization in a middle school setting.
4. They are ready to be more independent.
One of the most common arguments for moving 6th graders to middle school is that they are ready for the independence that comes from switching classes, having a varied schedule, and having more options. They are at an age when they are ready to spread their wings and try new things. Some 6th graders feel too limited by a self-contained classroom or/and want to make some choices about their classes. The elementary model can feel stifling to some 6th graders.
Teaching 6th Graders in Elementary School
Among my #teamelementary sources, some made a distinction between elementary and intermediate school. Obviously, a 4-6 campus isn’t a true elementary campus. But for the sake of this discussion, any school that is not a middle or high school will be considered elementary or upper elementary.
1. Elementary 6th graders get to be kids.
Keeping them in elementary school allows 6th graders a final year of childhood. There’s no definitive age that marks the end of childhood. Growing up is a process. Nowhere is that more evident than in 6th grade where kids tend to bounce in and out of childhood all year long–one minute acting like carefree, playful children and the next behaving like moody adolescents. But an elementary setting is more likely to encourage their childlike tendencies. And that’s a good thing. Because even though helping children grow and mature is important, we shouldn’t rush them. Instead, the additional year of elementary school might help kids to transition more gently out of childhood and into their teen years.
2. It allows them to be the “big kids” during a tricky developmental year.
Giving kids an additional year of childhood doesn’t have to mean babying them. In fact, by keeping 6th graders in elementary school, a part of their gentle transition into adolescence can include taking on leadership roles as the “big kids” on campus. They can serve as leaders at school assemblies and functions. They can be encouraged to serve as role models for younger students. Sixth-graders can even tutor and mentor younger kids. All of these things will help build their confidence which will better prepare them for the challenges of middle school.
3. Sixth graders are too young to be interacting with 14-year-olds.
There simply isn’t a strong case for 11 and 12-year-olds to be mingling with teenagers. Fortunately, many middle schools do a good job of keeping 6th graders separated from 7th and 8th graders. But that isn’t always possible. And as long as they are on the same campus, they will be sharing facilities, restrooms, and in some cases, classes. Sixth graders are more likely to come across more risky or mature teenage behavior when you house them on the same campus.
4. Data shows that elementary school is better for them.
Perhaps the most compelling reason to keep 6th graders in elementary school is that they simply do better. A 2007 study by Duke University found that elementary 6th graders had fewer behavior issues than their middle school counterparts and that the negative behaviors of the middle schooler 6th graders continued well beyond 6th grade. The same Duke University group, the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy, also found that test scores of 6th graders in elementary schools were higher than those of 6th graders in middle schools. Do elementary 6th graders behave and perform better because they are under less stress than their middle school peers? Considering middle school is notoriously difficult, it stands to reason that 6th graders do better elsewhere.
Of course, one of the difficult things about finding the best fit for 6th graders is that every child is different. There are big discrepancies in both physical and emotional maturity among kids this age. And while at this point this debate might be purely hypothetical, the best thing we can do for all kids is to take seriously their educational, social, and emotional needs and to try to determine how to best meet those needs. All kids deserve better than to have their educational path determined by logistics, teacher or administrative preferences, or anything other than what is developmentally appropriate and will ensure them the best possible future.
