Friends School Haverford

Fifth Grade Philosophy

The fifth grade team at Friends School Haverford is organized to support the unique social-emotional development of rising eleven and twelve year olds. Common developmental characteristics among these students include: a desire to expand social circles, an increased need for peer approval, an increased desire for independence, a need to remain young and dependent. You may notice your child acting very grown-up one minute and rather childish the next. At school we support the students’ desire for larger social circles and independence in a safe and caring environment. We deliberately expand upon social skills developed during fourth grade and support students further exploration into the larger world. We work together to create a learning community that includes both fifth grade teachers, with students working in flexible groupings of varying sizes.

Academically the fifth grade program is based upon an interdisciplinary, thematic approach to learning. We feel the children learn best through experience and reflection upon those experiences. And, since children process information in different ways, we provide a multi-faceted program that enables the child to build upon his/her strengths. We utilize a wide variety of resources and teaching techniques, as we connect the disciplines of language arts, history, sociology, and anthropology. We collaborate with coordinate teachers in order to connect our exploration to science, art, music and health.

Our yearlong theme of Communication develops in the children sensitivity towards different perspectives and empowers them to make changes in their world. Aside from increasing the student’s factual knowledge, we encourage them to explore new ideas, to respond freely and without prejudice to other ways of living and to understand how their lives touch upon and are touched by others.

The fifth grade teachers work closely as a team, devising the program, planning activities and overseeing each child’s progress and well-being. All students work with both teachers throughout the course of each day.