I just finished my first year of having to combine 4 & 5 into
one group. To put it plainly, it sucked. I felt that I was
floundering all year. I also taught it as one whole group and
decided to do the level 5 curriculum with modified requirements
for the level 4 students. I chose to do this so that I was not
repeating units and because the majority of the class were
really 5th year kids.

This coming year, I will go to the level 4 curriculum. The
class will be 75% 4th year students and the 5th year kids will
have increased requirements.

I was forced to combine groups due to a low-enrollment year last
year; I would have had only 7 kids in the level 4 class.
Looking ahead to the 2010-2011 year, I hope the classes will be
separate again as the groups coming up are larger.

I wish anyone who has to combine 4 & 5 the best of luck! I
might be looking for more strategies if I have to it more than
just these two years!

On 6/28/09, CT wrote:
> I honestly teach it as one whole group. I try not to repeat
> the same units that I used with the 5's when they were 4's.
> The 5's become "experts" in the classroom.
>
> It is not an ideal situation. I would love others ideas on
> how they teach a 4/5. (Which I seem to end up with every
> year!)
>
> On 6/26/09, Susan wrote:
>> This is my first year in a big school teaching French 4/5.
>> I experienced this when I student taught, but I don't have a
>> good recollection of how it was set up. Those of you who
>> teach a similar situation, how do you do it?

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