I will have a 1/2 for the 2nd time next year. School just let
out today, and I'm already having dreams about teaching a
combo. Yes, you get the nice kids and good workers, but it's
such a juggling act to teach 2 curriculums. We have Open
Court. I found last time it helped that the other 2nd grade
teachers took my kids to P.E. so I could have some alone time
with the 1st graders. Also, if you train one group to do
workshop time for independent work - math practice, seatwork,
silent reading/A.R. tests, journals, SRA kit - you can have 45
mins. or so with the other group. I trained them to move when
the buzzer sounded. I would just reset it without even talking
to them. Very important to train kids not to interrupt you
when you're with other group. We are getting new Science
program this year, so I'm nervous about how it's all going to
fit in. It does help a lot if another teacher is willing to
run your copies - homework, assessments, etc. when running her
own. Saves so much time to not make those trips to the copy
machine for 2 grades and it's not that tough for them to run
10-12 extra of things for you.

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