My fifth graders will be working with Mrs. Judson's class of kindergarteners. Each fifth grader is paired with a kindergartener as a partner for the rest of the year. We'll bring the children together each Friday for about 25-30 minutes of activities usually in the Kindergarten classroom.
For most students, these opportunities to work and play with a younger student are the highlights in the school year. I ask my fifth graders to make specific preparations for each week's activity time. They soon discover the importance of coming to the weekly sessions with a plan and all needed materials. You may find your child eager to talk with you about how successfully each Friday goes.
My emphasis is on building interpersonal relationships through appropriate activities. Sometimes fifth graders may want to bring candy or other gifts to school for their little friends, but I ask that this NOT be done. At the end of the year we will have an informal party with refreshments, but otherwise your child's preparations will be focused upon engaging the kindergarten child in enjoyable learning activities.
