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Montessori Teachers Chatboard

Maximum number of children in a 3-6 age group classroom

by CM

Apr 2, 2011

How many children would you recommend in a 3-6 age group class. I am working with two non-Montessori teacher assistants and a group of 36 children. It is a new school and started in Oct. 2010. At the beginning there were just 8 children but every week bunch of kids are joining the program. Now it is full. The room is very big and has been licensed to have 36 children. I have not worked with such a large group before and it is very challenging to give lessons to children as per my satisfaction. How many children you all have in a group and what number would you recommend.

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maureen On 4/02/11, CM wrote: > How many children would you recommend in a 3-6 age group > class. I am working with two non-Montessori teacher > assistants and a group of 36 children. It is a new school > and started in Oct. 2010. At the beginning there were just > 8 children but every week bunch of kids are joining the > program. Now it ...See More

Apr 3, 2011

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CS The most I've ever had was 28 with just me & an assistant. While it was extremely busy, somewhat noisy, the work ethic was strong - maybe b'cos kids noticed everyone else being engaged & it just rubbed onto them. I do admit that giving lessons was hard & I had to make weekly plans as to which child will receive which lesson - I had to, ...See More

Apr 4, 2011

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CM Thanks Maureen and CS. I am trying my best. Like CS said, I do have plan and update it weekly on what lessons I was able to give. Actually my assistants are new and even today couple of children joined today. So I guess I need to give some time and keep working on grace and courtesy. Thanks again for your support. On 4/04/11, CS wrote: > The mos...See MoreThanks Maureen and CS. I am trying my best. Like CS said, I do have plan and update it weekly on what lessons I was able to give. Actually my assistants are new and even today couple of children joined today. So I guess I need to give some time and keep working on grace and courtesy. Thanks again for your support. On 4/04/11, CS wrote: > The most I've ever had was 28 with just me & an assistant. While > it was extremely busy, somewhat noisy, the work ethic was > strong - maybe b'cos kids noticed everyone else being engaged & > it just rubbed onto them. I do admit that giving lessons was > hard & I had to make weekly plans as to which child will receive > which lesson - I had to, otherwise some child will always end up > being left out. > That being said, my productive class number is about 20-22 & > even that depends on the quality of the children & their > dynamics. I would strongly recommend having a plan in your work > cycle that covers something like - > > - which children may receive lessons on specific days (bear into > acct that sometimes you may have to digress). I made plans that > included the parttime or early dismissal children getting > lessons in the morning & others getting theirs in the afternoon. > But I made sure I met with all kids few times throughout the > week either by receiving new lessons or going over existing ones > with them. I had a daily lesson log which I updated daily. > > - what each of yr assistants are to do when you are giving > lessons. > My assistant & I were extremely attuned to things happening in > all corners of the classroom (you just have to with so many > kids) - if I was with a child or group, I was not be interrupted > & she would oversee the classroom. If she were busy, then I > would oversee the class. It wasn't perfect but the kids were > VERY quick in realizing our structure & I will say it worked > most of the time. We even role-played so they knew how the > structure was to work. I let them be the teacher & my assistant > & I were the kids & we would constantly badger them for lessons > & they had to figure out how to "deal" with us. :) > > Bottom line - Having a plan in action has worked great for me & > go over that plan with the kids. They don't have to know who > gets lessons when but I strongly see the benefit to sharing your > style with them so they are clear on your expectations of them. > > Good luck!

Apr 5, 2011

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CS Oh....I know how that works.....I inherited a classroom in Feb a few yrs ago with very dysfunctional kids & a then assistant who had no clue about class dynamics. Even before I could bring them to a routine, I kept getting new kids (ALL BOYS) at the rate of a few a week till June. It was unbelievable.

I don't know how I survived.....b...See More

Apr 6, 2011

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