OT: Split SK/grade 1 class

[thr33boys]

Sorry, not Disney related at all but am wondering if anyone here has experience with their child in an sk/grade 1 split class? Would love to hear the outcome.

Thanks!

 

[starvenger]

I have not but that's an interesting split. My daughter is in a JK/SK class but the split is logical in that it's still Kindergarten and the kids stay with the same teacher for 2 years. My older one did the same, and that worked great for her.

A SK/1 split seems like it might be a bit much for the teacher. Seems like a large difference in expectations between the two. But again I've no experience with this type of split.

 

[thr33boys]

I have not but that's an interesting split. My daughter is in a JK/SK class but the split is logical in that it's still Kindergarten and the kids stay with the same teacher for 2 years. My older one did the same, and that worked great for her.

A SK/1 split seems like it might be a bit much for the teacher. Seems like a large difference in expectations between the two. But again I've no experience with this type of split.

Yes all 3 of mine have been in jk/sk splits and I was fine with it because it was still kindergarten but I don't want my grade 1 still in a play based learning environment. The only saving grace is I like the teacher but really not sure how she's going to manage. She won't have the ECE's that are accustomed to full-day kindergarten either.

 

[alc571]

Ya, I don't understand that either. Kindergarten is supposed to be a 2-year program, which is why they run JK/SK splits so that the kids get two full years with the same teacher to teach the Kindergarten curriculum. Not sure how that translates to a SK/1 split. I think I would question it. My son was in a 1/2 split and it worked out well for him. He was in grade 1 at the time, and he was able to learn ahead in some subjects such as math. Our school has a lot of split classes due to a lack of kids. He's also been a grade 4 in a 3/4 split, and is now a grade 5 in a 5/6 split. I prefer him in the younger group, as opposed to the older. The older kids are expected to do a lot of learning on their own, and have to be very independent (which my son is not).

 

[allybabba98]

Hmmm...very interesting. Like previous posters I am used to Jk/Sk splits, my youngest is in one this year. I would just ask some questions in terms of logistics. Did you know it was going to be this way before this morning? (Sorry I am assuming you are in Ontario but I could be wrong)

 

[thr33boys]

Ya, I don't understand that either. Kindergarten is supposed to be a 2-year program, which is why they run JK/SK splits so that the kids get two full years with the same teacher to teach the Kindergarten curriculum. Not sure how that translates to a SK/1 split. I think I would question it. My son was in a 1/2 split and it worked out well for him. He was in grade 1 at the time, and he was able to learn ahead in some subjects such as math. Our school has a lot of split classes due to a lack of kids. He's also been a grade 4 in a 3/4 split, and is now a grade 5 in a 5/6 split. I prefer him in the younger group, as opposed to the older. The older kids are expected to do a lot of learning on their own, and have to be very independent (which my son is not).

My oldest son is now in his 3rd split class, my middle son is in his 2nd one and my youngest, is now in his 3rd as well (and he's only in grade 1). I really don't have a problem with splits, as I have lots of experience with my kids in them. I agree, kindergarten is a 2 year program.

Hmmm...very interesting. Like previous posters I am used to Jk/Sk splits, my youngest is in one this year. I would just ask some questions in terms of logistics. Did you know it was going to be this way before this morning? (Sorry I am assuming you are in Ontario but I could be wrong)

I have a meeting with the principal tomorrow, not that I think things will change but I will mention since this is a new initiative at the school, they could have at least prepared us for this. I have so many questions. Yes, I'm in Ontario....and still waiting for last year's report card but that's another frustration

 

[damo]

I think that split would be an awesome opportunity for some SK kids. When my daughter was in SK, she could already read chapter books and was definitely ready for more learning than SK offered. I am sure there are other SK kids who would do really well in that situation.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think that split would be an awesome opportunity for some SK kids. When my daughter was in SK, she could already read chapter books and was definitely ready for more learning than SK offered. I am sure there are other SK kids who would do really well in that situation.

I agree. It can be a really good thing for the right student.
I currently teach JK/SK. Sometimes I feel like the SK's are held back a bit because of the JK's.

 

[BLAZEY]

I just found out the DD6 is in a French Immersion K-1 split for grade 1. We are in BC, so no JK or SK, just Kindergarten and it is not required here. Kids must start school by age 6 or grade 1. I hope that the grade 1 kids are not behind in any way because of the Kindergarten students especially due to her being in French immersion and the K students not having any French, and the grade 1 students having a full year. Kindergarten is all day here as well. That class is a 50/50 split.

 

[Aladora]

I just found out the DD6 is in a French Immersion K-1 split for grade 1. We are in BC, so no JK or SK, just Kindergarten and it is not required here. Kids must start school by age 6 or grade 1. I hope that the grade 1 kids are not behind in any way because of the Kindergarten students especially due to her being in French immersion and the K students not having any French, and the grade 1 students having a full year. Kindergarten is all day here as well. That class is a 50/50 split.

Not to sound all stalkerish, but does your DD go to École Quadra?

To answer the OP, while DS was not in a K/1 split, he has been in split classes for grades 1-4 with no real issues. He has been both the younger grade as well as the older one and while I was hesitant at first, the classes have all worked well for him. He is in grade 5 this year but the classes have not been finalized yet so he might be in a split this year as well.

 

[BLAZEY]

Not to sound all stalkerish, but does your DD go to École Quadra?

To answer the OP, while DS was not in a K/1 split, he has been in split classes for grades 1-4 with no real issues. He has been both the younger grade as well as the older one and while I was hesitant at first, the classes have all worked well for him. He is in grade 5 this year but the classes have not been finalized yet so he might be in a split this year as well.

No, not École Quadra (but DH did as a child).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

My son was in a variety of split combinations when he was in elementary school.....including an SK/1/2/3 split as a grade 3 (yes, you read that right....4 grades in one room) and a 4/5/6 split (as a grade 4 student). In fact, he was in a split grade of some description (mostly 2-grade splits with the exception of those I listed) right up to grade 6.

Honestly, there were lots of positive skills learned (independence, leadership abilities, etc.), even in that 4-grade split in his early elementary years. If I was pleased with the teacher your child has been assigned, then I wouldn't personally have any hesitation with an SK/1 split class. My DS was always an above-average student, and his academics never suffered as a result of being in a split.

 

[thr33boys]

My son was in a variety of split combinations when he was in elementary school.....including an SK/1/2/3 split as a grade 3 (yes, you read that right....4 grades in one room) and a 4/5/6 split (as a grade 4 student). In fact, he was in a split grade of some description (mostly 2-grade splits with the exception of those I listed) right up to grade 6.

Honestly, there were lots of positive skills learned (independence, leadership abilities, etc.), even in that 4-grade split in his early elementary years. If I was pleased with the teacher your child has been assigned, then I wouldn't personally have any hesitation with an SK/1 split class. My DS was always an above-average student, and his academics never suffered as a result of being in a split.

Wow! Did your son have Ms. Beadle at Walnut Grove? Seriously, that is nuts. Glad it worked out well for him. It must have been a real small community. My husband is from a very small town (he actually had the same kinder teacher as my Dad) but he never had splits like that.

I'm fine with splits in general, my other 2 have had several but I have to be convinced the sk/1 can be effective.

 

[Debbie]

I have just retired from teaching-the grade 1 teacher at a small school. A couple of years ago, there was a strong chance that I would have the SK/1 split, and I did a lot of research. I kept up the research for the last 4 years of my teaching. I was ready and willing to do the split, and, yes, it would have been a lot of work, and a change of teaching styles. While I waited for that split to become reality, I began to change my teaching style to a more inquiry based learning style. The province (ON) actually wants that style to move up the grades, since kids learn best when they are actively involved in deciding what they are learning. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to teach the split, although this year, the school does have an SK/1. The FDK teacher took it on, and is excited to be doing so. I'm not sure of a couple of logistics (e.g. outside play), but I know that, with the right attitude, the right teaching style, and the right expectations, it can be a successful split.

 

[samsteele]

I can't speak to the early elementary school years, but as a child I was in a split 3/4 (in a portable), 5/6 and 7/8. Not all at the same school . . . my family moved from one town to another between Gr.4 and Gr.5. One was a public elementary school and another a Catholic elementary school. It was certainly very common 35 plus yrs ago in small towns across Ontario. I never felt at a disadvantage or ill at ease. They were always larger classes of 32-38 students and it worked out. There is certainly no one size fits all strategy but I was always happy at school and went on to complete an undergraduate university degree and then post-graduate university program. As PP have noted, there can be some benefits and enriching experiences in a split class.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Wow! Did your son have Ms. Beadle at Walnut Grove? Seriously, that is nuts. Glad it worked out well for him. It must have been a real small community. My husband is from a very small town (he actually had the same kinder teacher as my Dad) but he never had splits like that.

I'm fine with splits in general, my other 2 have had several but I have to be convinced the sk/1 can be effective.

lol, no Ms. Beadle....and not a small community either (well, its also not a bustling metropolis by any stretch, but our city has 55,000 people so we're not exactly remote or rural). Definitely 3 and 4 grade splits are very rare, but in our case it was a really good experience. Oddly enough, probably the BEST split experience he had was the 4-grade primary split, even with him being the oldest of those 4 grades (and light years beyond the abilities of the SK's in the group).....but again, the teacher was incredible and I think she could have taught school in someone's garage using only sidewalk chalk and the concrete floor and still made education magic. It's the teacher that's going to make all the difference (good or bad!!)

Have you had an opportunity to meet the teacher that they are proposing for the class, or know them from previous years?

 

[thr33boys]

I have just retired from teaching-the grade 1 teacher at a small school. A couple of years ago, there was a strong chance that I would have the SK/1 split, and I did a lot of research. I kept up the research for the last 4 years of my teaching. I was ready and willing to do the split, and, yes, it would have been a lot of work, and a change of teaching styles. While I waited for that split to become reality, I began to change my teaching style to a more inquiry based learning style. The province (ON) actually wants that style to move up the grades, since kids learn best when they are actively involved in deciding what they are learning. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to teach the split, although this year, the school does have an SK/1. The FDK teacher took it on, and is excited to be doing so. I'm not sure of a couple of logistics (e.g. outside play), but I know that, with the right attitude, the right teaching style, and the right expectations, it can be a successful split.

I love your enthusiasm for teaching. Congrats on your retirement. I have read that the Ministry is leaning towards the inquiry based learning for the grades.

I have done a lot of research the last couple of days and haven't seen much support for this class configuration. Part of my concern is that it's still a centre style classroom and my son is probably the oldest in the class, about to turn 7 in the New Year. Likewise, my middle son was 7 in grade 2 (Oct baby) - already had 1 year in a formal classroom setting at the same age.

They are allowing the SK's in the class access to the big yard for recess and while there is no ECE, there is an EA.

lol, no Ms. Beadle....and not a small community either (well, its also not a bustling metropolis by any stretch, but our city has 55,000 people so we're not exactly remote or rural). Definitely 3 and 4 grade splits are very rare, but in our case it was a really good experience. Oddly enough, probably the BEST split experience he had was the 4-grade primary split, even with him being the oldest of those 4 grades (and light years beyond the abilities of the SK's in the group).....but again, the teacher was incredible and I think she could have taught school in someone's garage using only sidewalk chalk and the concrete floor and still made education magic. It's the teacher that's going to make all the difference (good or bad!!)

Have you had an opportunity to meet the teacher that they are proposing for the class, or know them from previous years?

You are right, the teacher can make or break it. The teacher is fabulous, I must say. I have complete confidence in her abilities. She was born to teach. The same son had her for SK last year. She is the saving grace in this situation for me. I'd be more open to it if they took the centres away and made the room more typical of a grade 1 classroom.

 

[BLAZEY]

I went into the class this morning with DD6 and I could see the difference between the kids. You had Kindergarten kids crying and not wanting mums to leave and Grade 1 kids settled. I worry as DD6 is in Grade 1 she will not getting the full Grade 1 curriculum.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I went into the class this morning with DD6 and I could see the difference between the kids. You had Kindergarten kids crying and not wanting mums to leave and Grade 1 kids settled. I worry as DD6 is in Grade 1 she will not getting the full Grade 1 curriculum.

Even in a straight grade, you are going to see a wide degree of differences (both social and academic) between kids. Factors like late-year birthdays can also make a big difference for some children (putting them almost a full year younger than their same-grade peers).

We often found that the straight grades seemed to have more behaviour issues (which impedes the ability for a teacher to deliver the curriculum) than the split classes, as children selected for the splits were often more independent, adaptable, and helpful by nature (which is why they were selected for the split in the first place).

Most teachers are pretty well versed in what skills they need to have their students successfully reaching in order to make a smooth transition to the next grade. I honestly wouldn't worry about delivery of the grade 1 curriculum suffering as the result of a K/1 split. Each group will have their own assignments with expectations geared to their own specific grade, and the teacher should be watching closely to ensure that all students are achieving those targets.

Of course, I am speaking from the position of the mom of a child now in his final year of college (!!). So I feel like we have just about seen it all (and survived it too!) as far as education challenges go.

 

[BLAZEY]

I also worry that she would be bored. This is one reason we put her in French Immersion, she would have been bored to tears in an English class.