Opinions & help needed - split classes elementary school - urgent

[mickey65]

We started the year with split classes at my school. When the ruling came down about the caps in primary, our school was reorganized and now we have straight grades and an extra teacher. Oh course my K's are still in a split (JK/SK).

 

[coastgirl]

Denise, really glad the school worked it out for you without you having to fight it. My ds is in grade one, and there's usually one split class in the school (200 students or so), and I really, really, really wouldn't want him in a split class. In fact I will take your example and put it on file if it looks like his grade might become "subject" to a split. (The classes are huge--both gr 1 classes have TWENTY SEVEN kids, with the normal occurance of learning and behavioural challenges and NO FT aides. Kindy is capped at 25, which is what it was last year but we had some new kids arrive, don't know the caps for higher grades, but I can see a few more kids in the neighbourhood could, SHOULD push it over the top to another class.) I have a teaching background, secondary not elementary, and while I don't know the details of running a split class, I know the burden on our teachers is large enough.

Anyway, that was rambly! I am glad it worked out for you, and totally understand your misgivings. Hope your daughter flourishes in her new class.

 

[tink&cinderella]

Thanks for your support!

Denise

 

[RainbowsMist]

I work in an Elementary School that has 1 of every grade...however, my children go to another Elementary School that has over 220 kids and it is a multi-aged learning school.

There's a HUGE difference between multi aged learning and split classes. At my DD's school last year there were 5 gr P/1, 3 gr 2/3's and 3 gr 4/5's. There is no separate work. Everyone is taught the same. I love it when my kids are on the lower grade level of the class because it is challenging for them. The next year when they are at the higher end of the class and they find it not as challenging they get put in enrichment for subjects they need a little more challenging. For the most part they've never been bored. The other plus side is they stay with the same teacher for 2 years. Not every teacher can teach mutli age. It does take a LOT of organization and it is a different way of teaching.

Statistically, the kids that come out of that school and into JR. High then placed in a class with kids from other schools have been proven to have a higher academic understanding. The majority of honor students at our local JR. High are former students of our multi aged elementary.

 

[mickey65]

coastgirl......if you are in Ontario (and in the public system) the grade one classes could soon be split if they are that big. With the cap sizes that came out in the summer those numbers are too high.

 

[CindyAnn]

I'm glad to hear that you and your family are happy with the way everything worked out. You're very lucky! At many schools (ours included), a split class request is just that - a request that has a very good chance of being denied.

I know that there are always variations in the levels within a class, but it's still quite different when the teacher is delivering two separate curricula. While there is often some decent overlap in math and language, the science and social studies cucciculum usually needs to be taught quite separately.

Still, when it comes to split classes, my choices are always:
(1) strong teacher and dedicated class
(2) strong teacher and split class
(3) weaker teacher and dedicated class
(4) weaker teacher and split class

It's my belief that a strong teacher can make just about any teaching environment a successful one!

Now that everything is organized at school, have a great trip!

Cheers,

 

[maddiel]

(The classes are huge--both gr 1 classes have TWENTY SEVEN kids, with the normal occurance of learning and behavioural challenges and NO FT aides. Kindy is capped at 25, which is what it was last year but we had some new kids arrive, don't know the caps for higher grades,

Are your kids in English or French Immersion? I think the cap of 25 is now up to either grade two or three but immersion classes can be higher. I don't believe there is a cap in older elementary, but I think they try to stay under 30 students (although I've seen up to 34-35.)

One of the big problems here is that they haven't increased the overall staffing formulas enough to compensate for the capped classes - it makes for really awkward class-splitting, especially in dual-track schools. We lucked out - my grade one's elementary only has two splits (out of sixteen classes P-6) and she is in a class of 20 - but if there had been a half-dozen less kids in the school overall they would have been forced into splitting most of the classes. Our area is really in need of a boundary review too.

M.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Wow some of the schools commented on are small my 2 daughters are in French Immersion and their school has in the neighbourhood of 400 kids I think they said and when I was in public school my one school had 800 kids all our classes had 30 kids minimum in them. I honestly do not see a problem with split classes and it wouldn't hurt kids to be subject to it atleast once in their school years mind you that is just my opinion not everyone sees it like that.