Many corresponding grade level teachers meet on a regular basis. Many common grade level teachers become close friends and plan together naturally and out of habit. They share ideas and thoughts and frustrations.
Unfortunately in most schools that is the extent of grade level communicating. Beyond your own grade level, you rarely know what is happening. I am unaware of big projects or exciting news in other grade levels than my own. I can actually go days and never see teachers from particular grades.
In many schools this grade level division exists and prohibits true unity of the school. When teachers in each grade level can work together and appreciate each other’s efforts, more learning can take place for the students.
Not only do teachers need to be aware of the standards and skills that are to be taught in their own level but also the levels of others. The grades above and below are extremely important. Without knowing what knowledge your students should have learned last year, how do you know where to start this year? Without knowing what the teacher will expect your students to know next year, how do you know what to master this year?
While focusing solely on your own standards can get you by, and has gotten many by for years, exploring the standards of others can only help.
You can learn a great deal about your teaching by talking with the teacher that has your students the year after you. That teacher can usually see a pattern in the students’ strengths and weaknesses that you never knew existed. We naturally teach harder the skills that we enjoy. We put less into the skills that we do not enjoy. Therefore, the teacher may be able to give you some insight on areas of your teaching that can use focus.
Tips: Managing Student Supplies