Combination classes are classrooms that include two or more sequential grades under the instruction of one teacher.
Why combination classes?
Philosophical: The focus of this reason is on the benefits of a combined classroom. Students will benefit from the range and diversity present in multi-age groupings.
Economical: Combined classrooms are often the result of low enrollment in a school. Combined classes become a necessity for schools to stay operating, rather than a choice. This is extremely common in more rural districts. It could also be from government cutbacks.
Remember, there is no such thing as a homogeneous class, even in a single grade classroom. There will always be a wide range of student abilities, no matter the grade range.
Guide to a successful combination class
Teaching
- Treat the class as one
- Teach to the various skill levels, allowing for more instruction time to be together
- Look for PLO’s that overlap to teach all together
- Teach lessons to the lower levels and then build on them for the higher levels, giving students appropriate leveled activities
- Take your time teaching, don’t feel like you have to rush to get through everything
- Make time to reflect and inquire on your practices for your personal growth
- Ensure you have taken time to plan and prepare thoroughly
- Have a positive attitude, it will transfer to your students and parents
- Encourage self directed learning, peer tutoring and across grade grouping
- Focus on helping students learn strategies for learning
- Students are responsible for their learning; personal learning goals
Class Management
- Teach students to respect each others instructional time; use each other as an expert helper first, ‘three then me’ rule
- Structured, thoughtful class organization (cooperative learning)
- Implement strong management and discipline; create a class code of conduct and hang it in the classroom
Administration
- Assign equal number of students for each grade
- Careful student selection to enhance the classroom learning and the students learning
Parents
- Encourage better communication between teachers, parents and administrators
- More parental involvement in the class; helps with classroom management and allows parents to see the success of the class
- Open school board meetings up to parents where classroom assignments are discussed so they can have a better understanding
Remember: “Elementary teachers are among the most knowledgeable professionals about child development and how learning takes place.”
– Split Decisions P. 4
There are advantages and disadvantages of a combination classroom.
Advantages
- Focus on individual learning needs
- Supports individualized and self-paced learning
- Mixed aged play: expands creativity, seek others with matching abilities
- Development of responsibility: older children take responsibility for younger, responsible for own learning
- Opportunities to consolidate learning
- Across-grade grouping: peer assessment and tutoring
- Confidence and leadership skills
- Develop independent learning skills
- Older students gain from constant revision
- Age range can produce more productive and interesting discussions
- More opportunities for high achieving students
- Instruction is directed more to the students level
Disadvantages
- Increase teacher workload and stress
- Insufficient instructional time and preparation time
- Learning can be difficult for some students (non-independent learners)
- Lack of resources, support and specific education
- Possible negative teacher attitudes about the situation, leading to compromised teaching