If you only had to cover the curriculum and make sure your students had mastered the subject matter, teaching sixth grade would be easy. But it’s a multifaceted role that extends far beyond textbooks and lesson plans. A conversation with sixth grade teacher Mrs. Emma Hamm helps you realize that sixth graders are expected to master a complex curriculum, while dealing with complex physical, emotional, and spiritual issues in an increasingly complex world. She is an instructor, a counselor, a confidant, a spiritual guide and a disciplinarian. Her role is like a juggler with ten plates in the air trying to make sure none drop and shatter. In a word, teaching sixth grade is complex.

Mrs. Hamm grew up in a suburb of New York City. Her parents attended Wheaton College. They loved their time at Wheaton and talked about it often. The family visited Wheaton on numerous occasions while Emma was growing up. When she graduated from high school, there was no doubt she would also attend Wheaton. 

At Wheaton, Mrs. Hamm was an education major and then worked in the development office before landing her job at Timothy. She and her husband are now firmly planted in the Midwest. She loves being part of the Timothy community and it has become like a family for her.

Sixth graders have their own hallway and classrooms that are equipped with cutting edge technology, and every sixth grader has a locker. Not only is sixth grade the perfect time to join Team Timothy, but four sections give sixth graders the opportunity to travel to different teachers and classrooms. It’s just another progressive step to build capacity in executive functioning, social skills, and taking on responsibility. 

Mrs. Hamm, who teaches English and social studies, is part of the team that guides students and helps them explore their God-given gifts and talents. The academic expectations for sixth graders are elevated in their classes and are designed to push students out of their comfort zone. There is more homework and students are held accountable to have it completed when they come to class the next day. This accountability encourages students to work on time management skills which will be key to a successful seventh and eighth grade experience.

Teachers collaborate with their teammates for instructional planning to meet individual student needs. There are opportunities for co-taught math or reading for those who might benefit from an even smaller (less than or equal to 13:1) student-to-teacher ratio.  Tier Time math and reading groups are formed to differentiate instruction and experience for students, which allows for individualized attention.

As the oldest students in the elementary school, sixth graders have opportunities to develop their servant leadership skills. Sixth graders are paired with kindergarten students as their “buddies.” These relationships provide an opportunity for our oldest students to build relationships and leadership skills with our youngest students through chapel partnering, reading together, and working on projects together, too. 

"It is clear to me that God has called me to be a teacher working with 6th grade students. This is not a job, but a calling.”

Christ-Centered Community

Sixth grade is also a time when students are going through physical changes, which are often accompanied by insecurities. It requires a teacher to pay close attention to a student’s struggles, demeanor, and moods. A sixth grade teacher is like a guide leading a group through uncharted territory.

“Being a trusted confidant and an authority figure is a difficult balancing act for a teacher,” notes Hamm.

The advantage for teachers at Timothy is that they purposely create a Christ-centered environment. A Biblical perspective is integral to helping students understand how their words and behaviors impact others. Mrs. Hamm addresses these issues one-on-one with students as well as with the entire class during their class meeting time. “It provides us with an opportunity to address issues and discuss the best way to handle them from a Christian perspective.”

In the digital age, the challenges of social media and internet usage compound the complexities of adolescence. Every student comes from a family with a unique set of guidelines for the use of electronic devices. The research indicates that social media and internet usage have a profoundly negative impact on young people. This adds one more issue to an already complex set of challenges for sixth graders. 

Academic instructor, emotional support, social arbiter, spiritual guide, trusted confidant, role model and authority figure. Those are a lot of hats for one person to wear.

 “I love it,” says Mrs. Hamm. “It is clear to me that God has called me to be a teacher working with sixth grade students. This is not a job, but a calling.”