One Step Closer to Middle School
5th graders learn that with privileges, come responsibilities
Our 5th graders are diving into their capstone year at JCDS, filled with new challenges, creative opportunities, and the tools to thrive in middle school and beyond. This year, students will work through more complex lessons, and homework assignments will increase, all while building independence and confidence.
Back
The 5th graders are already shining as school leaders. They proudly wear their colorful and comfortable tie-dye shirts on Mondays. Many have joined the Leadership Corps, guiding our youngest Sharks to their classrooms in the morning.
They have also began their elective classes this year. The students got to select classes that spark their passions, where they will explore activities like acting, video production, Makerspace, or survival skills.
The 5th-grade teachers have already begun inspiring the students in their academic growth.
"Our expert 5th grade teachers thoughtfully prepare students for the transition to middle school by guiding them through more complex assignments with greater expectations, fostering personal responsibility and accountability, and gradually extending privileges that support both independence and confidence," said Director of Education Tonya Elstein.
In Ms. Stephanie Teitelbaum's writing class, the students are brainstorming ideas for their first narrative assignment.
"Each student generated three possible story ideas and then shared them with their table groups to receive feedback," said Ms. Teitelbaum. "This collaboration helped them think critically about which ideas have the most potential to grow into strong, engaging stories."
JCDS students' writing and communication skills have been highly commended over the years by area middle schools.
In language arts class, Ms. Melissa Lamph is deepening the students' word analysis skills. This week they learned the roots hydr (Greek for water), aqu/aqua (Latin for water), and mer/mar (Latin for sea).
"It's a step up from fourth grade as students now focus on higher-level thinking by breaking words apart and applying root knowledge to determine the meaning," said Ms. Lamph.
The students study words independently, complete creative assignments, and share their understanding with their peers within one class period.
"Fifth graders enjoy more enrichment opportunities, like interactive activities where they act out or illustrate vocabulary, which is making learning engaging and meaningful," said Ms. Lamph.
Math comes alive in Ms. Dona Kenny's class, where students are currently tackling decimals.
Ms. Kenny goes well beyond having the students simply work problems on a worksheet. She will have the students use whiteboards to practice or review math concepts. Specialized apps on their iPads allow the students to play educational games to practice math skills. They will review skills through competitive games like "Trashketball" or "Table Wars," where they earn points for their team by solving problems. The students will go on math scavenger hunts where they will move around inside and outside of the classroom to find and answer questions with a partner. Math is not boring with Ms. Kenny!
The final year at JCDS is the culmination of our premiere educational program. It is the launching pad for each child's future!
Jacksonville Country Day School
Located in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Country Day School is a private school for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade. JCDS prepares students for a healthy and productive lifetime of intellectual exploration, character development, and social responsibility.
© 2025 Jacksonville Country Day School. All Rights Reserved.