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Who Is Your Sixth Grader?
You and your sixth grader can have an exciting and meaningful year together. The faith of eleven- and twelve-year-olds is expanding as is their ability to think logically, to make connections between events, and to understand the feelings and point of view of others. More and more, life is centering around peers. Socializing, talking on the telephone, and being part of a group are increasingly important at this age.
Physical Characteristics
- Bodily changes continue, especially for girls
- Physical growth can vary greatly from child to child
- Abundance of energy
- Concrete thinking predominates, but some sixth graders may be capable
of the beginnings of abstract reasoning
- Enjoys challenging tasks
- Attention span has increased
- Language skills and capacity for logical thinking expand
- Dependence on peers for approval is increasing
- Enjoys working with others in cooperative groups
- Continues to seek acceptance from the group
- Growing development of conscience
- Heightened sense of justice
- Enjoys projects that involve helping others and social justice
- Beginning to be able to relate Bible messages to his or her own life
experiences
- Responds to opportunities to participate in liturgical celebrations
- Is comfortable with a variety of prayer forms
Growing as Catholic Christians
Sixth graders are at a critical time in their development. Many of them
have entered a new school setting as "middle schoolers." Roles
and relationships of the past may be changing. Body changes and the emergence
of adolescence may be raising many questions in the minds of sixth graders.
These questions can relate to what it means to be a Catholic and how one
determines right from wrong. They will respond well to caring adults who
are willing to take the time to listen and respond to them as they search
for new levels of independence and greater understanding of their own
life experiences.
We asked a group of sixth graders what
they would like a parent to know about them. Here's what they said:
I Wish...
