Wikis are interesting. I like the fact that people can only view your wiki by invitation. I reviewed a blog comment and felt weird because I don't understand the context of the comment.
We are working on our Advocacy wiki. My advocacy group is declaring that smaller class size would enhance the performance of students in all grade levels. JJ, Christy, and I are adamant about the success of our students. We feel empowered by the research and want others to join our cause.
How many students are in your class? What is the area of the room where you teach? How do you feel about the issue of student/teacher ratio and its impact on student achievement?
Let me know your thoughts.
9 comments:
I think that we all need smaller class sizes. I have 23 first graders. At this young age, many of these children have yet to be identified for special needs. When they have issues, we often feel overwhelmed and get no support. Much of our energy is spent trying to modify curriculum and work with these children. Howeher, this is great for those troubling children, but is not fair to those who do not struggle. The same is true for behavior problems. Much time and energy is spent on that, verses the children that are always doing the right thing. I think smaller class sizes would be great for everyone. Children can recieve the istruction that they need, and teachers could get more personal with the students.
I teach K and currently have 18 students. In the past I have had up to 21. The difference that three students makes is amazing. I could not imagine 10. The activities I could teach the attention I could give the students would be wounderful. I can keep dreaming. At this point I would be happy with an insturctional aid.
I am a special education teacher and currently have a caseload of fourteen 2nd and 4th grade students. Each having their own IEP and academic goals. There comes a point in time when a small group is no longer considered a small group. The fourth grade inclusion class I work with started the year with 22 students and currently has 27. It becomes difficult to accommodate the needs of all the students. I am all for smaller class sizes.
I have taught in schools with small class sizes and it is amazing the difference it can make in your teaching. Just a couple of students makes a huge difference. I am also amazed at the difference it makes in the students. In small classes students can't become invisible. I know that we have all had that well-behaved student who just kept her head down and didn't draw attention to herself, all the time not learning what we hoped we were teaching. Another interesting part of small class sizes is that students find participating in class discussions much less intimidating. They are more willing to have their voice heard and raise their confidence levels. Anyone has small group discussions within their classes has experienced this. It would be great if the school systems didn't have to play the number game of student/teacher ratios because of money. I think finances and limited resources are the biggest stumbling blocks to reducing class size. Perhaps President Bush could understand that children would not be left behind in classes with fewer students. That would be more effective than flogging everyone to perform so that we can reach 100% pass rate. What if he gave the federal money to reduce class sizes and looked at what was accomplished instead of making everyone jump through the hoops before there is enough money to hire more teachers.
I agree with you, Kathy! My smallest class was 13 students (a little too small!) and my largest was 29. There is a huge difference in what I can accomplish, the relationship I have with each student, my patience level, etc... Smaller class sizes are the way to go!
I teach 5 classes 3 of which are large (27, 27, and 29) and 2 of which are smaller (12, 15). There are times in my big classes (especially if everyone is there) that I feel like there are just so many of them...that I can't think straight! I feel that I know the kids in my smaller classes better, I have more time to interact with them and can address their individual issues much more productively.
I have 17 students in my homeroom class which doesn't really matter because we have rotations are our school. I have 21 3rd graders in each of my three science classes and 16 students in the language arts class. Last year, we had less students and I found it was easier to give them more individual time.
I taught in Reno, NV several years ago where reduced clas size was just taking off acros the USA. But, because our school was terribly overcrowded, we had 34 1st graders in one small room with 2 full time teachers instead of the state mandate of 15:1. We could have 5 adults in the room and it would not have made a difference for a variety of reasons.
Bottom line - I believe reduced class size is an advantage for the students and teachers.
JudY
In P.E., I often find that the number of students is critical depending on what we are teaching. Of course you need to have a significant amount of kids for a particular lesson to take place if it calls for large/many teams. Although, in most cases, more is certainly not merrier!!! I completely agree that regardless of where you teach and what you teach, smaller class size allows for more interaction with students and greater student success. So, it matters not who you are, or where you are in the building. Efficiency is key, and the masses do not always allow that.
Think about this...3 classes, 60+ kids in the gym at once, and 2 teachers!
That right there is my reality!
Good luck to me!
I have only skimmed half of the comments but will say that I do have a very small group of students. I teach special education for grades K - 2, which means I have every disability you can imagine in my room!! But I love it. at any given time I can have from 9 students up to one or find me in classrooms for inclusion. Most of my planning/teaching are geared to their own unique needs and levels along with adding in grade level sols. Frustration levels rise and fall depending on the day, weather, skills. There is enough time to have a lunch break but nothing else. By the end of some days, I am worn out!!
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