what is the ideal number of students in a classroom for teaching?

Answer 1

In my personal experience (12 years of teaching special education), I'd say 10-15. Less than that, and it's actually harder to keep folks on task. More than 15 and you just don't have the time to get all the 1 to 1 time in. I'd actually take exception to the idea some folks have that 1 to 1 is best. Doesn't teach independence.

Answer 2

There is no "ideal number", as many of the answerer's have pointed out.

From the perspective of someone who spent 25 years as a trainer in the military and another 4 as a civilian Sub-teacher in Elem, Middle, and H.S. level...It really depends on one thing.

If the Students realize that it is NOT the Teacher's job to GIVE them an education, it is the Student's job to GET an education. It is the Teacher's job to create an environment where learning can take place and to create an interest in the student to want to learn more about a given subject.

If you have a classroom of 24 excellent students and 2 class clowns, the learning environment is disrupted. Give the teacher the authority to remove the clowns and learning will probably occur.

Students around the world now have an unprecedented opportunity to learn about hundreds of subjects, thousands of topics, via the Internet. Teachers must now focus on giving the students the necessary perspective, how to study with an open mind, and an ability to recognize that anything written on the Internet not based on proven or scientific facts comes with the Author's bias.

Answer 3

It really depends on the students and the subject and the teacher. I work best with about 12 when I teach study skills, 6 when I teach yoga. I used to teach 30 or so in public schools, and did not do well at all. And unless you are teaching 1 or 2 students, there really needs to be a minimum of six to get a good discussion going.

Answer 4

It depends on what kind of class it is, how old the students are, and a variety of other factors. Fewer is always better, but teachers have no control over the population size of their classrooms. However, if you asked a teacher, they would probably say somewhere between 16-22 for intermediate and above. Many say that over 24 students, a sort of critical mass is achieved, and discipline issues begin to rise up. The Ontario government recently capped all primary classes at 20 students, without exception.

Answer 5

I would say 20 .... I'm a high school teacher and had classes ranging from 12-28 and I think the perfect number would be 20. Good number for groups and not too many students to take over the classroom dynamic ....

Answer 6

Since I think the "ideal" form of education is cooperative learning, then the ideal classroom would have three groups of two to three students per group. You want a small number of students in a group to ensure that all members of the group participates. And you want a maximum of three groups to allow discussion and an odd number of groups to facilitate decision making by consensus. So, anywhere from 6 to 9.

In the real world, I've seen effective cooperative learning in as little as 15 and as many as 60 students.

Answer 7

The fewer the better. The smallest class I've taught had 18 students, and they could be a handful. If you can get into a classroom that has 12 or less, that's perfect. But, being realistic, 18 to 20 is probably best.

Answer 8

I have had good classes of 13 and of 25. I don't think I've ever had a really well-functioning class over or under, and those classes were exceptional. I'm going to say 15, too, a number I've been pleased with every time.

With fewer than 15, it's too easy for the quiet ones to shut down because there would be too much exposure. They need the blanket of other people.

With over 15, quiet ones and sneaky ones have more room to go their own way and get lost.

15 provides the perfect community so that they can still be grouped and still communicate with each other well on a whole-class level. There is time to deal with the needy ones and time to get to know them so they each feel needed and important.

Answer 9

Depend on the age group. Grades 1-2 ideal number of students is 25 because they need more attention. For older kids max is 40. Anything beyond that and you will have to move the class to the lecture theater.

Answer 10

I think it really depends on the class and subject. Personally, for any grade special ed, I think no more than 15 per teacher. But for an AP 12 grade English class, for example, then maybe 30. For elementary school, I'd guess that about 20 is optimal. It's big enough without being too overwhelming to give individual attention to students who need extra help.