Posts tagged with split.

Split classes don’t always make the grade

Kathy Dobson, September 30, 2009 at 3:53 PM

 

I wasn't overly concerned when I learned that my youngest son was going to be in a split grade this year. My two oldest had a split class for Grades 7 and 8, and based on their experience, I figure split grades aren't necessarily a bad thing.

 

Or are they?

 

According to the People for Education's "Annual Report on Ontario's School 2008," the jury is still out on whether split grades actually help or hurt students. The report says studies revealed mixed results when considering the impact of split classes on student achievement. Out of 38 studies, 28 showed no impact either way. Four showed a positive effect, and six revealed that students did better in single-grade classes.

 

So why even bother with split grades? They seem to be just part of a numbers game.

 

Thanks to government caps on class size, split grades have increased significantly in recent years. In 2008, 74% of schools across Ontario reported split grades in elementary schools and of those schools, an average of 36% of their classes had two or more grades in them.

 

The good news is, according to this YorkRegion.com article, the Ministry of Education lists several important benefits of combined grades, including "improved social development, leadership, self-motivation and decision making skills."

 

An article in the September issue of Today's Parent magazine supports some of the Ministry of Education's claims. Joel Gajadharsingh, professor emeritus of education at the University of Saskatchewan, told the magazine students in split grades not only do just as well academically, they might even do better. The repetition and exposure to another grade can help make them more respectful and collaborative, even if they're in the older part of the split.

 

"They're not simply left alone," he says. "They have assignments to do and it's these things that teach them independence and dependability to do their work. They also learn to collaborate in this kind of environment, where they either give help or seek help."

 

Wow. Aren't those skills we'd like to see developed in all of our children?

 

Heck, maybe all students should be in split grades?

 

Uh, no.

 

Fortunately for my children, they've only had positive experiences with their split grades. In all three cases, their teachers seemed able to keep up with the extra demands of a split class, and my kids enjoyed being with mixed age groups.

 

But this isn't always the case.

 

In the same article of Today's Parent magazine, one parent said mixed ages can sometimes leading to bullying, after her son was targeted and picked on by some of the older students in his split class.

 

Parents with concerns about split classes aren't alone. Although lots of students probably do okay - maybe even great -  in split classes, the bottom line is that many educators, including both public and Catholic teachers' unions, have expressed serious concerns.

 

In its Policy and Position Statements, the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says combined grades should never be used in Grades 3 to 8. Or in a rotary system. And teachers and students shouldn't be in split classes in consecutive years. Plus combined grades should only be used for those students who are independent learners.

 

Or if Jupiter is aligned with Mars.

 

The YorkRegion.com article notes the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association has said split grades are nearly impossible to handle under an inflexible curriculum with a "staggering" number of expectations.

 

According to the People for Education's Annual Report on Ontario's Public Schools, many teachers also have serious concerns about split classes.

 

Some worry it can lower the quality of instruction in the classroom.

 

"The demands of the Ontario curriculum are intense. A move to differentiated instruction, which requires teachers to adjust their methods and content to match the different capacities of a wide range of students, combined with having to teach students in two or more grades may reduce the quality of the instruction."

 

As a parent, I'm also concerned by the report's claim that teachers in split classes are "less happy on the job" compared to those teachers in a single-age classroom, thanks to a heavier teaching load and increased demands for classroom management.

 

I like the idea of my children being exposed to different age groups. Diversity is always a good thing, right?

 

But more importantly, I want my children to have the happy and satisfied teacher. Not the overworked (and possibly resentful) one.

 

Editor: You may also be interested in a discussion paper on combined grades by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

 

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