Some teachers and parents believe that different grades across the academic spectrum offer challenges that are beyond the typical ones that each individual grade offers. Fifth grade is considered by many to be just such a grade.
We, as parents, can offer and provide additional support in these grades. By doing so, we can show our children that we may not be there alongside of them in the classroom each minute of the day, but that we recognize some of the challenges they are confronting, and that we want to provide support where needed and when wanted.
One challenge that often becomes very apparent when your child reaches fifth grade is that the outside world has seeped into what was once a‘home’ oriented world. The opposite sex may be a growing focus, and team sports often become quite competitive around this age. What these often mean to your child’s attitude in school is that a ‘lack’ of attitude towards academics is sometimes budding due to these extra influences.
Discussion
Identify through discussion what is happening with your child on a daily basis. If you are not a parent who already inquires to the daily activities, become one. Start slowly by simply asking what transpired in a day. If no replies are forthcoming, or are nothing more than a grunted ‘nothing’, do not give up. Make sure you are up to date on what is going on at school through newsletters and talking to your child’s teacher. Perseverance can work, and do not belittle even the smallest information that a child decides to share. Something that you as a parent may not consider the news of the century, may be a major item of information to your child. Absorb anything that your child is willing to share…What I am trying to get across is, actually establish a conversation, do not just pass words. Children are smart, very smart, and they will notice whether you are sincere in wanting to know how their day went. If the question of ‘how did your day go’ is met repeatedly with the grunted ‘nothing’, change tactics slightly, and ask more pointed questions, such as, ‘did anything exciting happen at school today’, ‘did anything bad happen at school today’, ‘what was lunch’, ‘what goes on in gym class’. If they offer up any info, give comments back, such as ‘when I was in fifth grade, we only had ‘boys only’ gym, etc. Anything to carry the conversation, and keep in mind that it may be awkward at first, but it will get better.
Extra Curriculum
Did you read that right you are wondering? If a child is struggling academically, you have tried to be supportive through talk and helping go over the work, and they still struggle, try to approach the work at a different angle. Go outside the appointed work and try to discover some curriculum that teaches the needed information from a different viewpoint. Math, science, reading, or just about any major subject, can be taught numerous ways. If your child is not learning what he or she needs at the school level, we as the parents must ‘pick up the slack’. The curriculum they are receiving at school may cover all the basics, but some children may find it either extremely boring, or the opposite, too fast paced. Identify which, and fill in the gaps.
Individuals
This actually looks back at the last two points of discussion and defining where your child is academically with the offered curriculum. Keep in mind that each child is an individual. Just because their older siblings did this or that during fifth grade, or you did when you were in fifth grade, that does not have any bearing on whether they will or will not. This is such a fast-paced world we live in that when a child reaches an age, different with each child, but often around the fifth grade level, they often become so encumbered with ‘stuff’, they become very introverted, or the opposite, very extroverted. This can change by the day, or even the minute. Fifth graders often boggle the mind of the adults around them. Stick with it and remember they will be sixth graders before you know it!
