Abstract:

It is commonly known that through the transition process from kindergarten to primary school, 1st graders encounter adjustment difficulties in the new school environment (Galanaki, 2004). These difficulties are related to subjective annoyance, discomfort and reduction of child’s functionality in one or more sections of its life, such as cognitive, mental, social and emotional. So, there is a delay in the achievement of its developmental goals. Moreover, many children refuse or are unwilling to attend school.

Another issue of equal importance is school bullying. It could be physical or verbal (Rigby, 2008). The impact of these dimensions is generally negative for children’s psychology, let alone for the 1st graders.

In order to overcome these two issues simultaneously, we organized a special adoption, in the base of an annual program for normal adjustment in the primary school “6th graders adopt 1st graders”.

Our actions start with a warm welcome from the 6th graders, who give the 1st graders symbolic gifts useful for the whole school year. Afterwards, they are shown around the new school environment, achieving this way the most efficient acquaintance with it and stamping out the fear of the unknown. Then, they plant a pomegranate in the school yard, which symbolizes wisdom, good luck, regeneration and longevity.

During the school year, the 6th graders come along with the 1st graders to the school buses, succeeding in improving their relationship and growing a safety feeling in the new school environment. In this way, we can vanish the possibility of 1st graders being victims of school bullying.

Furthermore, the students of both grades have meetings so that they can play educational games. They played “scrabble” once, a game which associates the lesson of Language with that of Maths. The 1st graders, under the guidance of the 6th graders, managed to create words and then calculate their points. Therefore, we achieved building both linguistic and mathematical knowledge.

Another action is related to the regular visits beyond the classes during Language and Literacy hours in order to make them fond of reading. The first book read was “Share love”. It transfers the friendship and love message, through Literature.

The program ends with the graduation ceremony, where the 1st graders take leave of their supporters during the school year in a very innovative and creative way. The 6th graders will bid 1st graders farewell, all this auguring well not only for their further school life but also for their whole life in general.

Learning that synchronizes with offering high quality services should be understood as a teaching and learning method rather than as a simple activity or a fact. Learning programs like this contribute to children’s personal and social development, to the improvement of their social behavior and to building conscientious and responsible school and community members.

The program was tested to Axion primary school students and the results were encouraging. Our students are more than excited, bullying has nothing to do with our school and we are considering of enriching the program and applying it to the other grades as well.

Keywords:

Education, primary school, skills, disciplines, school adoption, school life's quality.