Why are there split classes in elementary school?

Question

i'm just wondering if it has something to do with weaknesses and abilities in students learning and if it is can you explain to me please

Answer 1

when i was in 5th grade we had split classes to get used to middle school

Answer 2

I'll add to second responder: split grades are also beneficial socially we have noticed. The kids from the older grade tend to mature faster as they are often used as the "helpers' for the younger grade. On the other hand, the younger grade learn to make friends with people of the older grade, not to mention that they learn at a faster pace. Students who are placed in a split grade are usually known to be independant workers. We need that to be able to teach the other grade while the other grade is busy with work.

Weaker or very dependant students are usually kept in a single grade. Sometimes, however, because of number, it is impossible to do a single grade. In this case, teacher aid are indispensable.

hope this answers your question. :)

Answer 3

There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between a split class and a multi-age class. First of all, for splits, the best thing to find out is whether or not the teacher or school created this willingly.

Typically in "regular" schools, splits are created when there is not enough of one grade and too much of another. Some splits are better I think like the 2nd and 3rd or the 4th and 5th.  Most of the time teachers don't want to do this because essentially they are teaching 2 curriculums - the mentality of the school and teacher are different. Typically they don't put all the high 3rd with with low 4th - it's a mix.

Now I work in a multi-age school willingly and we did it this way for the follwing reasons:

1. Developmentally how students learn. Flexibility in having a bunch of different abilitiies in your class. Focus is on learning rather than on grade.

2. Teachers and kids are together for 3 years 1st -3rd and you really get to know the students therefore less time is spent being wasted because you already know what they know and how to grow. It is incredibly beneficial.

3. Student leadership - 3rdgrade students become strong leaders.

4.  Learning - lots of cross grade learning which helps kids in the future.

And lots of other reasons. There are some schools that also do split grades that approach it from a multiage perspective but those are as rare as multiage schools. After teaching multiage for 5 years, I will never go back into a single graded classroom.

Answer 4

Split classes are about finances.  The student population  in a school will determine how many teachers that school gets. Declining enrollment translates into more splits.   For example if the school for September 2008 has 69 grade 5 students what are the options?  Do you have 3 classes of 23?  No.  Too few.  Most classes are 30.  Do you have 2 classes of approximately 35?  No.  Too many.  So, the administration creates a split. 30+30 and puts the remaining students into a split 4/5 or 5/6 split.  

Those students who end up in a split will be determined on the basis of their academic ability, maturity level, how well they work independently and gender make up of the dominant grade level for the split.

Please note that I can only speak for the region I teach in.  It may vary elsewhere.  But in my opinion the benefits of straight classes far outweigh those of a split class for both teacher and student.   Unfortunately, split classes are here to stay.  Students in a split class get less one on one time with the teacher for obvious reasons.

Note: splits can work but they are not for every teaching style or learning style.

Answer 5

"Split classes" are generally used when the student/teacher ratio and class size restrictions produce the need for "half a class".

The decision about whether or not to put a specific student in the split class often takes into account the individual abilities of the students and the teacher.

Like all situations how well it works depends on the relationship between the teacher, parents and administration as much as on the students in the class itself.