One would think that yes, they've been in school long enough, but I think that COVID is still making a difference.

I teach 4th/5th grade music and am in my 9th year at this school. So, I've got my lesson plans down. I have taught this year's 5th grade (last year's 4th grade), for over a year now and there is a noticable difference in their learning and maturity compared to any of my previous classes. Keep in mind that these are the kids who lost the last chunk of Kindergarten to COVID.

I can't prove that it's COVID, I just know that these kids have had more trouble with concepts and lesson than ANY of my previous classes with basically the same lessons. Lessons that all of my previous classes had no trouble with, took extra time and energy because these kids didn't get it.

And for what it's worth, all of the 4th grade teachers last year were noting the same problems. So perhaps there is some lasting COVID effect?