Our town's elementary school district School Board meeting is tomorrow night. The agenda includes making a decision on maximum class size for the K-6 schools in the district. Currently, they are considering a class size of 32, before splitting the class and hiring another teacher. Most of us parents, of course, would prefer smaller class sizes.
While we appreciate budgetary concerns, we don't want to compromise our child's educational opportunities, either. As, I'm sure, the school board understands and, probably, agrees. Our district currently does not provide teacher's aides, unless there is a special needs child in the classroom (no matter what the class size).
Is there any research out there that studies the optimal class size? Is there a certain class size beyond which learning is, usually, seriously impaired?
What is your personal experience with having your children in large classes versus small classes?
2007-06-06 09:20:42 · 11 answers · asked by Maureen 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
What solutions has your community come up with, to deal with this issue of class size vs. budget?
2007-06-06 09:20:55 · update #1
The smaller the better. Smaller classes are even more important, the younger a child is.
Your district could consider having smaller classes in the primary (K-2) grades, slightly bigger in the intermediate (3-5) grades, and bigger still at the middle school level (6-8).
That said, it's still better when it's smaller. As a teacher in 7th grade, I had classes of 18-32 students, typically 24-25 students. It was such a difference to have 18 kids in a class. I could get to each of them much more, individually, and I felt I had a much better handle on everything in the room.
The physical space in classrooms also needs to be considered. It really isn't a whole lot of fun teaching 32 kids in a space more suited to 24 kids. They're on top of each other and behavior escalates with less space to spread out.
2007-06-06 09:29:56 · answer #1 · answered by booboo559 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I am a grade schooler and I am sooo glad to give someone this answer!!! I have been in small classes all but one year! I just graduated out of sixth grade and I honestly have to go with the small sized-classes! The students get more one-on-one time with the teacher which can really help and It is a lot easier for the teachers as well. So it's a win-win situation. Although large classes are preferred by kids because they have a better chance of being in their friends classes that can be a distraction! So to conclude I would have to say a good class size is 16-20! I hope this helps!
2007-06-06 11:18:02 · answer #2 · answered by leemah(: 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no sources at the moment to back this up, but I've heard 16-20 kids in a class is the ideal for k-2 and then up to 25 after that. I think it mostly has to do with young children needing more personal attention than older kids. Especially when it comes to learning the essentials like reading and writing. In my school district they don't let classes get bigger than 25 in kindergarten and no more than 30 students in other grades. I wish they had smaller class sizes though.
2007-06-06 09:27:32 · answer #3 · answered by Desiree P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our school district raised property taxes to help pay for additional teachers and to build another school. k-4 class sizes usually range 10-15 students to a teacher and an aid which is wonderful. The older students however still have class sizes of 20-25 with only one teacher.
2007-06-06 09:25:05 · answer #4 · answered by Indiana Raven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The max is 20 to 24 students per teacher. My daughter is in a class of 58 which is a combined class of 2 grades.She has 2 teachers.Everyone would prefer smaller class sizes. You need 2 teachers for a class of 32.I would put my foot down about needing extra teachers for larger classes.
2007-06-06 13:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have been in large and small class sizes, and I know which one is better. Smaller classes mean more personal attention to each student. The max should be no more than 25 kids if you want to maintain that personal status with the kids. It of course depends on the teacher and students in that class. If the kids can't act old enough, the teacher won't be able to control them.
2007-06-06 09:27:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am in the 8 grade, and I have been in classes from 11 kids to 25, and I think that I learn better when there is less kids in my class. I think thqat you shoud get one more teacher, because 32 is too much. A good maximum idea is 23 kids.
good luck!
2007-06-06 09:44:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a good class size is between 15 and 20 students. This allows students to get the personal help they need, and stops them from feeling intimidated by a large amount of fellow peers. Children answer more questions and share their thoughts more openly if they don't feel like they have too many peers listening to them. Good luck!!
2007-06-06 09:32:46 · answer #8 · answered by theoneandonly 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like small classes and im in 7th grade but that does not happen much
My brother has class sizes of 20 and we go to private schools
2007-06-06 10:12:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
13 at the most 20.
2007-06-09 18:02:45 · answer #10 · answered by Preggo_Wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋