I just found out today that my son was placed in 1st/2nd grade split class. Other parents who were placed in this class were notified in advance, so I was shocked when I found out about it.
Reading other Q&A about split classes, I feel much better (I initially panicked), but still a bit concerned because I'm a full-time working mom. I barely pick him up from the after school program at 6pm! My son is a 1st grader and being in a slipt class, I'm afraid he won't get enough time on the 1st grade material. Do the parents have to spend extra time helping home work etc? Since he's used to being with older kids at the after school program, I'm not worried about my son's social life, but concerned about the academics.
Any tips on how to deal with the split class is aprpeciated.
My son is a 2nd grader in a 1st/2nd split. I am very excited about it. There is so much research out there on the benefits of multi-level classrooms. He'll get plenty of time on his material and have the opportunity to step it up since 2nd grade material will be taught as well.
If your son was picked for this class you should feel good, and proud! They only put the most mature, well behaved and academically ready kids in split classes. That goes for both the younger and older groups. The younger ones have shown the capacity to keep up and the older ones have shown the capacity to be good role models, plus there's usually an extra aide to help out. It really is a GOOD thing!!!
My daughter was a 1st grader in a 1st/2nd split and I actually found it to be a good thing. They get exposed to 2nd grade material A LOT because they hear instruction that the teacher is giving the other kids.
We tried to organize parent volunteers in the classroom as much as we could - I worked as well, so I wasn't in the classroom at that time, but you can maybe do the organizing and get moms who have availability on a rotating schedule. We found that to be super effective.
I didn't find that she had more homework at all. If homework increases something is wrong. Teachers have to have some additional training before they are able to teach a split class.
Typically this class should get a student teacher which will help out as well.
Has always worked well, IMO. The kids have a lot to gain from it. I would not be worried.
I grew up in a small town and we had split classes often. It started out as a solution to one grade with a lot of kids next to a grade with few kids. After the experimental year, some of the teachers found that they really liked it and continued in the following years. Sometimes my older brother and I were in the same class. I thought it would be weird, but really the only thing I noticed that was different was that at times one half of the class did quiet work while the other half received instruction. We could listen if we wanted to, but tended to just tune them out.
Due to a dual language immersion program my daughter is in, she's been in the higher grade of a combo class every year from 2nd to 5th grade.
I don't think it's ideal, but if he has a great teacher, it will be fine. They have a lot of tools for covering the material for both grades, and the students learn to work well on their own and with each other (while the teacher is working with another group.) A good skill to have. We only had one year when I felt the teacher was not effective. She had trouble staying organized herself and keeping the students focused. Several students dropped out of the program that year, but we stuck with it, and have been back on track since then.
As a student in the younger grade, he'll have the advantage of being exposed to higher grade material (without being responsible for mastering it).
We don't spend extra time with homework, although I do tend to have her spend less time with the material she's mastered, and more with things for which she need more practice.
