middle school grouping

[Rose-Roget]

Ds is in a public Montessori. In the district, the elementary goes through 5th grade, with 6-8 in the middle school. For years, they've had Montessori classes 1-3 and 4-5 at the elementary, then 6 as a stand-alone at the m.s. and 7-8 combined at the m.s.

They are looking to propose to the district a separate entrance for Montessori at the m.s., so that the 4th graders can start up there, and the class can be a more authentic 4-6 and then 7-8 (they also noted other advantages, like foreign language could start as early as 4th grade, then). I'm not sure how I would feel about my 4th grader being surrounded by mostly middle school aged kids at such a young age, so I have not signed the petition to propose it to the school board.

Since the program already does not follow authentic groupings (stand-alone 6), then I was wondering what the harm in just having a 6-8 combo would be? Is there a reason those ages couldn't be combined, even if it's not totally ideal?

[carmel23]

hhmmm... are you asking if it is okay for 4th graders to be in with 6th graders?

Or 4th graders combined with 8th grade kids?

I currently have a 4th grader in a 4--6 and he loves it.

[Rose-Roget]

I am wondering whether a better alternative to moving 4th graders to the middle school would be to group 6-8 together instead? That would eliminate the stand-alone 6th graders at the middle school, and the 4th graders could stay at the elementary. I know it's not the best way to do it, but if the district is looking for a solution to the 6th graders being a class among themselves, I didn't know if there would be a fundamental reason why 6-8 wouldn't work.

[kittykat2481]

Hmmm... I'm thinking that if done properly, it would be best to have the appropriate ages grouped together. Even though the 4th grader would be in the same building as 8th graders, they wouldn't be in classes together. The school I'm considering for DS for grade school is toddlers through adolescent, so technically speaking my 2 year old could share a (small) campus with a 14 year old, but they wouldn't be in classes together. So it is possible that the 4th and 8th graders could coexist peacfully.

[carmel23]

One of the best schools in our city is K-12 (non Montessori). The high school kids often work with the younger kids, they both love it.

I think separating middle school children typically happens, not to protect the other children from them () but to get them ready for high school (?)

[ollyoxenfree]

I was going to respond that it made more sense to preserve the 4 to 6 group and the 7-8 group, but I had second thoughts. I know K to 8 and K to 12 schools can function really well. I think that is different from a 4 to 8 school though, where the 4's are going to be under a fair amount of influence from the older students, and it won't be counter-acted by the presence of the younger students. Since they are the "babies" in the school, the 4's will be motivated to act older, emulating the 8's.

It's just a theory. I have no idea if it would actually work out that way. I understand the concern though. I'd want to hear the school administration's response to these kinds of concerns.

[Rose-Roget]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

where the 4's are going to be under a fair amount of influence from the older students, and it won't be counter-acted by the presence of the younger students. Since they are the "babies" in the school, the 4's will be motivated to act older, emulating the 8's.

This is what I was thinking. Most of the school will be 6-8 - like 600 (or more)students in this range. There would only be a few 4th and 5th graders. And the school would still be designed as a "middle school" - not like a k8 or k12 school that is designed for all ages.