Split Classes?

[Sunflowermommie]

My daughter started 2nd grade today she was placed in a 1st/2nd split class .

Has anyone else had a child in a split class? I was never placed in split class when i was in school so i have no idea what to expect.

whats good and bad about it?

Thanks,

Cheryl

[Mary]

My son is in a 1st/2nd split class. It is mostly 2nd graders, but he is in first. It has been wonderful for us so far. His school is very accomodating and teaches students where they are at. He is advanced and gets to do second grade math, and spelling, and has a reading group parter that reads at his level- they have books that are appropriate for them (unlike his old school that only offerred a certain level of readers even to the advanced readers). I am so glad he's in this class because a regular classroom would not have been ok for him.

I haven't given much thought to pros/cons. I didn't realize he would be in a split class until we saw his class roster, but I was glad. He is in a very small school and there was already a 1st grade class and a 2nd grade class, so they must have needed another teacher to keep the class sizes small, but they couldn't get two (one for each grade). He's got 11 kids in his class.

[bobandjess99]

My stepsons were in a 4/5 split last year (1 in 4, 1 in 5, LOL)
It was fine, honestly, to me it seemed like it was a way to allow the teachers to "specialize" more like in a middle school setting, where you actually change classes? Because, in the split, 1 teacher would teach likemath and another would teach social studies, etc. And then they could split and have like a higher reading group and a lower one, etc. I can't really think of any "cons" versus a "regular" classroom.
Like a pp said, sometimes it is because they have like, 2 full classes already of each grade, and have like a handful of students in each grade leftover, so they thrwo them together into a "split" classroom, because they can't afford to hire TWO more teachers.
the only thing I would worry about is if the class your daughter is taking is sort of lumping everyone together and NOT taking different abilities into account. For example, if she is in grade 2, and very bright, but most of the class is grade 1, and they are mostly doing grade 1 level stuff, your dd might get bored, etc. However, on the other end, if she is maybe struggling or would need/enjoy a slower pace, then perhaps haveing the opportunity to be with some younger kids would be good for her, etc....

[CarrieMF]

The school here has split classes for every grade except K.

My older 2 kids have both been in split classes.

There are many reasons why a kid is placed in a split class. Kids who are put in them are usually the ones who can work by themselves(while the teacher is teaching the other class), who are advanced & need the stimulation of the higher grade, who may need the extra help of being exposed to a grade twice without holding them back a year, kids that don't fit into any of that but they need to fill the class.

Tirza is in grade 4 now & was in the 1/2 split(grade 1) & the 3/4 split(grade 3). The only con was in grade 1 as she is one of the smallest & youngest kids. She was 5 when she started grade 1, turned 6 in Nov. There were kids who were turning 8 in Jan. Tirza was intimidated by the size difference during classes like gym. Though there were kids who were her same age & just as tall/big as them so it may not have made a difference anyhow.

Asha is in grade 1 in the 1/2 split. She NEEDS to be there & if they hadn't placed her there I was requesting the change on day 1. She is advanced & needs to be exposed to the grade 2 in order to be challenged. As an example in Guided Reading they have the Grade 1's reading by Christmas. She's reading better than alot of the Grade 2's are. They started her in the Guided Reading in K. In Grade 2 they want them using reading aids to help them read & she doesn't need them right now. Guided reading is 1 area where they do give books on the kids skill level.

[Tuesday]

My son is in a split class as well. Our province has legislated that classes be only 20 students in size so most schools are now putting two grades (or more!) in a class. My son is in a JK/SK and since he's a JK, I've not much yet to share - it's his second day.

I went to school in the 1970s and 80s and I was in a split grade 4/5 and grade 5/6 class. For me, it was a very good experience. I was advanced in my reading and math skills so I was able to do work above my grade level. At times, the teacher would teach the entire class and then give individual instruction based on grade and/or skill level. I recall being quite motivated to keep up with the older students. As well, since your own grade was a small group of students (relative to a one grade classroom), you'd actually get more individual attention. There were advanced students in my grade but also there were others who required more remedial work and they were able to get the attention as well.

The one disadvantage I do recall was since I was in split grades (i.e. grade 4 in a 4/5 class), I didn't get to know the other class of grade 4 students. So the pool of children from which I drew my friends was smaller. I actually wasn't aware of this point until I reflected back last night (after realizing my son would also be in split grades). I think had I been in an unsplit classroom, I'd have likely known more children in my school and had more social contacts. Possibly. There is no real way of guaranteeing a child makes good friends during their school days. But, definitely, I did find my network wasn't as broad as it might have been had I not been in a split class.

I hope this makes sense ... very sleep deprived today! :