School and Academics

5th Grade Math: What Happens
Fifth grade math aims to prepare students for the big leap to middle school. With fractions, decimals and triangles it's clear your child is no longer just counting apples. By knowing the basics of what your child will be taught, you'll be better prepared for some tricky questions, such as "Why is ...

How a 5th Grader Thinks
Now that your child’s a big cheese at elementary school, it’s easy to see how much he's grown mentally. It can be challenging to determine what a fifth grader can understand and what's beyond his comprehension. He may look like a preteen, but there's still some little kid just under the ...
Fifth Grade Summer Reading
Interested in fifth grade summer reading? Here are some recommendations for a summertime full of fantastic books.
The Transition to Middle School
Students make many transitions during their years of schooling: from home to school, elementary to middle school, middle to high school. Here's a brief overview of some of the issues involved in the transition from elementary to middle school and provides suggestions for transition programs and ...
Social and Emotional

How to Talk to Your 5th Grader
Are you and your fifth grader having a hard time coming to an agreement? Is he indecisive? Does he drag his feet or just refuse to agree with anything you say? Then now is the time to add the “tie-down” strategy to your talks.

Gender Differences: 5th Grade
“Self-esteem” is one of the buzzwords of modern parenting, tossed about as a panacea for everything from sexual promiscuity to teen suicide. Unlike tetanus shots and spanking, however, it isn’t an either/or proposition: parents begin nurturing their children’s self-esteem at birth, and it ...
Your 5th Grader's Social Life
By fifth grade, your child is likely to be a lean, mean, social machine, and I mean mean. It's a matter of survival. Now is the time when teasing and gossiping take center stage in the social arena, as children's social instincts become sharp as a whip and entirely ego-centric.
Social Graces: What to Expect in 5th Grade
Your fifth grader comes in from school, runs up the stairs and slams his door shut. He’s mad because his best friend called him a name behind his back. At this age, your child’s social life is increasingly complex and sophisticated. And a handful of manners can go a long way.
Milestones and Development

Physical Development Milestones: 5th Grade
Maybe your fifth graders don’t beg you to watch them move and play, but secretly they want you to. Provide positive feedback and your fifth grader's physical confidence will blossom! Here are some important movement milestones for your fifth grade child:

Middle Childhood: 9 - 11 Years Old
Your child's growing independence from the family and interest in friends might be obvious by now. Here are some suggestions to help your child become independent, while building his or her sense of responsibility and self-confidence at the same time.
Our Essential Fifth Grade Gift Guide
We've looked high and low for the best toys, books, games, and gadgets to make gift-giving easy. Check out our gift guide for top picks that combine learning value, staying power, and major kid-appeal!
Recent Discussions
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- Social Graces: What to Expect in 5th Grade
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