If your class sizes were larger by, say, 10%, how would the things we've talked about in our blog help you do that more effectively? As you, especially in this economic time, work to help students learn at higher levels, how would this scenario encourage you to work differently? How would this change how you use your (and your students') time in class?
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16 comments:
There would obviously have to be adjustments made with materials and space, but the objectives of the lessons would not change. It would, however, create more varying ability levels that would require teachers to alter methods of instruction to reach all learning levels.
Having a larger group would also force teachers to re-think assessments and grading. With a larger number, time is always a factor. It would be more challenging to be sure to meet the needs of every child each day, especially in grades where students are with more than one teacher for specific blocks of time.
From Fourth and Fabuluous - LOL - Jenn5teacher pointed out some very good points like ability levels, space issues, re-thinking assessments, etc. We were discussing the fact that we do this every year (to a certain degree) as new students arrive/leave. When we look at 10% that's about 1-2 students. We have that much fluctuation now.
Preschool/Speech believes that it depends on the grade level,age, and ability level of the students on how it will effect the whole class.
I think that consistent classroom rules and expectations would have to be in place from day one. If students know what is expected, most will rise to the occasion. I can't see how instruction would have to change very much. I have had 30 in one classroom before with some flex scheduling. It was not that big of a deal. Expectations are the same for 18 or 30. Also it you don't use books much, you don't have to worry about not having enough. Middle school students always like to share. No problem. As for assessments and grades, why would that have to change? Cooperate group learning would ease some of the demands on teachers. With inquiry based learning students are guided to discover on their own.
We have experienced 10% more in the past and have made adjustments to meet the student's needs. We believe that it is not the number of students, it's the attitude of the teacher. In the lower grades students need a small group setting to address the basic academic skills. If we were to have "30" students then one area we discussed that would need to change would be our morning academic centers. We would need to find more volunteers from staff, parents and student peers to help run these effectively. Another suggestion would be to group students based on their ability or academic needs during morning academic centers.
PLCs would certainly make life easier in this situation! Having the support of other teachers and sharing lessons that work could only make classes go more smoothly if more students were added to my classroom.
Classroom management is a crucial issue in the class size debate. Management skills come through experience and are sharpened through trials and tribulations. Some of us know how that feels. Hands-on, creative, collaborative groups, and less lectures are a few ways to engage the students in higher-level learning.
Support personnel
Amen Baity!!
Expectations and rules should not be altered or changed due to the number of students. We would need to increase small group numbers or add addtional small groups to meet the academic needs of all students.
It is probably a little easier in the upper grades to have more students in a class. The students (hypothetically) are able to handle being in larger classes. The major area that has to change is assessments because of time to grade them. As has been mentioned, goals and expectations do not change. A true learning community will work together to ease some of the burdens, such as making assessments, scheduling, and other problems.
Direct insruction would change little, however the need for differentiated instruction would increase with a higher number of students. Learning teams would have to collaborate even more to develop quality instruction. If class size was increased the amount of one-on-one time would decrease. This would negatively effect student learning. Currently it's difficult to challenge and show growth for high achieving students. With an increase in class size these students would probably suffer the most.
I am in a meeting and engaging in off task behaviors as I read your posts. I will make some remarks when our meeting ends. Jas
I find this article interesting and the posted comments below it even more so. I urge you to read some of the posted comments below the article. I agree that 10% (that's 2 or 3 more) would not effect the average classroom. I would continue as normal, TRYING to meet the needs of each daily.
However, this year I feel that my classroom is not average. Almost 1/2 of my 24 did not pass the reading EOG last year, not to mention the 10+ who cannot or do not meet their disicpline/academic goals monthly. I have struggled to "keep afloat" this year. If I were told tomorrow that I had 3 more students coming next week, I would be checking myself into a mental hospital!
In true PLCs this would not be much of a hindrance. We would be able to take great advantage from our planning. We could share ideas, lessons, and strategies. What we are going to teach would not change. We would still have our Standard Course of Study.
One problem that may exist especially for beginning teaches will classroom management. Having this many students in one room could cause some problems.
The EC PLC says that in EC, growing by 10% within a year is not uncommon. In growing, there are many "growing pains." Adding children alters the dynamics of a class. However, we have to adapt to the different needs. Working closely with our coworkers enables us to bounce off ideas with each other. Having common formative assessments available would enable us to quickly evaluate a child's needs; and in return, allow us to quickly provide the necessary instruction needed to reach the unique needs of our children.
As teachers, our main focus should be on our students' success. Whether I have one student, five, or twenty, my focus remains on the goals I need them to accomplish. My classroom would look much the same if my class size were to increase. I already have several different things going on at once, so there would either be more students in each group OR more small groups. I would have to re-evaluate my time to see how to best meet students' individual needs. I would still strive to meet with all students individually and while with a larger class the amount of times they meet with me would decrease, I would still meet with each student as often as possible. As long as we work to communicate with all of our students throughout the day, it won't matter how many fill our classroom.
Classroom management would naturally come to mind. With 3 students or 30 you have to be organized for your sanity and theirs. However if effective teaching practices are not in place it will not matter if you have 3 students or 30 students. The classroom must be centered around the student and centered around their individual progress. Larger class sizes are going to mean, to me, more assistance from out of the classroom sources. This meaning more assistance from your grade level, grade levels above and below not to mention assistance from our specialized teachers like literacy lab, EC, speech etc. to meet needs. With the arrival of RTI, we will have to rely heavily on each other for support becuase we are not responsible for just the 20 in our class but for the 500+ that are in our school. (feeling kind of visionary today:)
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