Sixth Grade and the Twelve-Year Change

*This is Part 1 of a three-part blog on the middle school years, grades 6, 7 and 8. 

It is a unique and fulfilling attribute of Waldorf education, thus adopted by Lotus & Ivy, in that we match the curriculum to the developmental age of the child, thus contributing to optimal physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. Rudolf Steiner left us with insightful knowledge about each year of childhood.

The twelve-year-old is leaving the golden years of childhood and fully entering adolescence.  This pivotal moment is reflected in the Ancient Rome block of sixth grade when Julius Caesar is making the difficult decision of whether to cross the Rubicon River.  “Should I go, or should I stay?  What will happen?” It can be quite scary, but ultimately Caesar decides to cross, and he is joined with his army singing joyously as they cross, leaving behind a life to which they can never return.

Many physical changes are happening in the twelve-year-old. You may see them sprout up in height.  Their brain is changing, and they crave sensory stimulation: loud music, spicy foods, physical challenges. You may see them pushing each other or wrestling as part of their need for sensory stimulation. Orderly habits they had in past years may go away and they may become absent-minded. Their sleep patterns change. This is when the “night owl” emerges.  The 12-year-old needs their sleep but may have trouble falling asleep early.  School really should begin later for them so they can get their sleep, which is another reason homeschooling is beneficial for this age, as well as why Lotus & Ivy offers classes at multiple times.  Some could even develop a caffeine habit at this age.

The twelve-year change has been compared to a river rafting trip.  There are beautiful, long moments of calm, then turbulence comes and there may be a period where we’re barely hanging in there. The good news is this is a normal and necessary part of moving from childhood to adulthood.

The twelve-year-old has passionate likes and dislikes. We bring black and white drawing into the art of 6th grade to help nourish where they are. This is the year they begin the search for their own identity.  You may notice them begin to experiment with their signature, or their handwriting may change from earlier years.  Perhaps it becomes very tiny when it was larger before. Part of searching for their own identity is shown in clothing and hair style choices. These changes can be alarming to parents, but psychologists advise parents not to “take the bait.”  A “whatever” attitude from the parent is the best approach.  Some Waldorf schools have adopted dress codes that simply say, “You must wear clothing, and it must not promote hate speech or racism.”  This simple response has eliminated many power struggles. If experimentation with new styles or new hobbies, albeit they must be safe, is uncomfortable for you, rest assured this stage will end in a few years. It is best to just ride the wave.

The twelve-year old experiences a strong awakening for peer relationships and an interest in the world. They no longer want to just feel, but they want to think.  The curriculum in the early years was centered on encouraging strong feelings in the student because they learned best when they experienced strong feelings around what they were hearing or doing.  The 12-year-old is still in the feeling stage, but their thinking is emerging too.

Lawfulness is a core sixth grade theme in the Waldorf curriculum. We study ancient Rome and how the plebeians and patricians work out a balance in government. We study Astronomy and Physics and the laws of nature that appear in both the heavens and the earth. In Business Math, students discover their first formulas introducing them to the laws of mathematics and business.   

Students in sixth grade no longer see the parent or teacher as the same leader or authority figure they once saw us as. We are still captains of the ship, but we must steer the ship without them feeling like we are the captain.  The curriculum for this year greatly supports us in this.

Interestingly, images of the 6th grader are reflected in the curriculum when we see thousands of Roman soldiers who are not distinguishable from one another, or the many monks in the monasteries of the Middle Ages working on illuminated manuscripts.  They do not stand out from one another, but 7th grade is coming, when that little flame of individuality ignites. 

Part 2 of this blog series, “7th Grade and the 13-Year-Old” is coming March 2022.  Steiner referred to the 13th year as the most important!