Think about your very first day at school, and think about today. You have learned so much more than just how to read and count — you have also learned how to be a good friend, a good teammate, and a more independent person.
What school teaches us
Of course, school teaches useful facts and skills: reading, writing, times tables, and how the world works. These are important tools you will use your whole life.
The hidden lessons of school
But every single day, school also teaches lessons that are not written on the board: how to take turns, how to share, how to make new friends, how to work in a team, how to wait patiently, and how to be kind even when you are having a hard day. Sociologists sometimes call this the hidden curriculum — the lessons school teaches beyond the timetable.
Sort each thing you learn at school into the right group:
- Times tables
- How to read
- Spelling words
- Taking turns
- Making new friends
- Helping a classmate who is stuck
Growing up together
School is also where you slowly grow from a small child who needs a lot of help into a more independent person who can solve problems, look after your own things, and get along with all sorts of different people. You do most of this growing up alongside your classmates — which is part of why school friendships matter so much.