The fourth grade is over. Ahead lies the fifth. For a child, this is not just a new school year, but a tectonic shift in the coordinate system. Farewell, one teacher, hello, ten subject teachers. The familiar classroom disappears, ghost classrooms appear. We tell you what changes occur in children when they move to middle school. Change in educational paradigm In elementary school, the teacher played the role of a "hen": explained everything, controlled, collected the backpack. In the middle grades, the student becomes more independent. Now they keep their own diary, navigate the classrooms themselves. This is stress. Children lose notebooks, get lost in classrooms, forget about homework for one of the six subjects. This is normal, but requires adaptation. Loss of status in the class From the old-timers of elementary school, children become the smallest (in the fifth grade). Senior students appear, who can push in the corridor. The hierarchy is broken. In elementary school, everyone has known each other for a long time, but in the fifth grade, "outsiders" from parallel fourth grades may be moved in. New groups, conflicts, popularity crises arise. New teachers and different styles of communication There was one "class authority" before. Now there are several: a strict math teacher, a kind literature teacher, a fair physical education teacher. A child needs to learn to switch behavior: on one lesson, he can be a quiet person, on another, a leader. Some love "heart-to-heart talks," while others cannot stand familiarity. Hormonal level and puberty Transition to the fifth grade (10-11 years) often coincides with the beginning of puberty. Emotional instability, sensitivity, the desire to seem adult are added. Children start to giggle at "reproduction lessons," but are embarrassed to ask questions. This requires special pedagogical tact.