Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time

Posted by 4/5 on 7/28/07

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GOod luck! I am in my second year teaching a 4/5 split and
it's challenging. I have never had an aide- so, if the aide
can be used to work with small groups, you have it made!
Heck, even if the aide can be used to make copies, etc, you
have it made ;) Last year I had 14 5th and 8 4th, this year
it will be closer to even with 13 and 10, I believe.

This past year, I taught reading using small groups, ability
grouped. We don't have a reading program that follows
specific books, but rather, just focuses on specific
strategies that are to be used with my choice of grade level
books, so that makes my life a little easier, although I am
supposed to teach one grade in one language and the other in
another language (immersion program), which is a bit tricky,
to say the least.

For math, we have a specific curriculum to follow. I taught
from both curriculums, as the kids who had been in the class
with the previous teacher had already had the 4th grade
curriculum and the new 4th graders weren't ready for the 5th
grade curriculum. Centers can be your new best friend for
math, imo. Depending on your math curriculum, you could
possibly teach from one, basically, then extend for the
older kids or something. It does take a lot of work though.

I feel for you with the young ones at home-- mine are no
longer all under 3, but I have 3 aged 3-6 instead ;) I did a
lot of work after bedtime, but it made for a little less
sleep than I would like on many days. I'm hoping to be more
organized this year!

I don't think it would hurt for kids to read the same books,
but I think you should definitely do what you can to change
the approach you take or the questions asked so they can
extend their leraning and gain more from the books this year
than they did last year. With a half day aide, you really do
have the potential to teach to two curriculums if you have
both math and reading in the half of the day where you have
assistance. I know when I taught from two different
curriculums for math, my biggest issue was that one grade
needed assistance/monitoring for their independent work
while I was actively instructing the other grade. *very*
difficult, and an aide would really help with that.

I think there are a lot of advantages to multigrade
classrooms, but I still do wish I had a single level ;) It
would make my planning a lot easier.

On 7/28/07, Sandy/PA/2-3 wrote:
> I'm 95&37; certain (will know for sure Monday) that I'm
going
> to be teaching a 2-3 split this fall. I will have 10 third-
> graders and 9 second-graders. I have no idea how to begin
> and I'm nervous! I've been bookmarking some websites to
> delve into, but I have three kids under three at home, so
> my time is limited!
>
> I'm wondering things like what materials do I use? If I
> use the second-grade reading series, last year's kids will
> have already read the stories. Does that matter? If I use
> the third grade stories, the kids I have next year will
> have already read those. Or do I have them work out of
> separate series? I do have an extensive classroom library
> and some multiple copies of tradebooks that I always use
> to supplement our reading series or replace lessons that I
> find weak.
>
> I have a half-day aide. Can a split class be managed
> without an aide for the full day?
>
> I'm wondering other silly little things . . . mine will be
> the only split class in the building, so which yearly
> program does my class participate in -- the second or the
> third? *lol*
>
> Any advice for a nervous first-timer will be appreciated!
> Sandy

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Doing a split class this year for the first time, 7/28/07, by Sandy/PA/2-3.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 7/28/07, by 4/5.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 7/29/07, by Donna/WI.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 8/13/07, by Cynthia.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 9/17/07, by Kelly.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 8/01/08, by Jackie Rosen.
• Re: Doing a split class this year for the first time, 9/13/08, by Aimee.