[Tia Maria]

My son has just got his class list and his class has been combined with a younger one to create 2 mixed classes.

This means in his class next year there will be children more than a year younger than the oldest. Possibly more importantly, there will be children in his class who have only been at school for 6 months, whereas, he has been at school for 1 and a half years.

It also means that in the next school year half the children will be turning 6 and half will be turning 7.

I can't see how this could work? :confused: Although I understand its a common NZ thing. Isn't the age/experience range to great for the teacher to teach effectively?

I'd be interested to hear people's comments. I suspect I'd be less concerned if I was the parent of one of the younger children.

Not surprisingly the school releases this information, (including school reports), the day before school breaks up, so you have no time to talk to someone about your concerns.

Cheers

Tia

[sizzlingbadger]

We've got the school report problem, it's being handed out as they leave school for the holidays today :(

I would talk your concerns over with the principal, try and get hold of her today before they break up. I wouldn't be too happy about it but then my youngest is moving into a class with up to 7 year olds and she's 5. She's more than ready for it whereas my 7 year old will be moving up because they can't be in the same class and he's not quite ready. But then we don't know whether she's going to grow up too quickly with older ones in the class :o

I find here they move around classes on abilities rather than set ages like they do in the UK. It all evens out in the end and they find where they want to be.

[janrzm]

My son is a year 1 in the uk [ will be 6 in feb] half of the class mix with reception in the afternoon and half with year 2.
I also have 2 daughters in year 4[age 8 1/2] - their class is mixed with year 3 & 4 - so last year they were the youngest and now the oldest.
As it has always been this way it doesn't strike me as being a problem and doesn't appear to be a problem with the children either.

[Nick88]

My daughter goes to a fairly small rural school and all of the grades in her school are in dual class rooms (if you see what I mean). There are essentially 8 years (incl year 0) in four classrooms. This doesn't present any problems whatsoever for the kids, as long as the teacher is a good one and the head count isn't too high. Don't worry about it, I'm sure it won't affect your child's A level results.

[holland]

I can understand your concerns as a parent absolutely and would speak to the school when you get the chance.

I haven't got children but I do work in the early years field and studied child development and effective learning environments, and I must say that research and evidence suggests that mixed age and ability classess are extremely beneficial for all of the children. The younger children learn from the older ones, and aspire to be like them and the older one's complete activities themselves and then help the younger ones or less able, thus reinforcing their own learning and learning how to interpret the information in a different way.

I hope that makes sense??? I understand it anyway!! Ha ha ha

The only way I can maybe see this not working is if the teacher struggles to differentiate...often ( as is the way in a lot of classes with the same aged children) children at either end...very intelligent or perhaps the children needing support in particular areas may miss out.....one needs to be stretched and stimulated and the other needs the same as well as support.

I would maybe just ask the teacher how he/she is going to plan and differentiate activities for such a group of children...

J xxx

[jubjub]

When I was doing my teacher training I had a split class to "practice" on. It wasnt quite as hard as it sounds as you just pitched things at a different level for the older/more able ones. or quite often had two different lots of work going on, this was made easier with a teacher aide that we had available. Its not ideal, but I dont think its particularly detrimental either.

[dharder]

I can't see how this could work? :confused: Although I understand its a common NZ thing. Isn't the age/experience range to great for the teacher to teach effectively?


Not sure if this helps at all, but mixed age ranges is the way German primary schools are going. They have started to combine the first two years in a lot of schools, and some places aim to combine the first 4 (!).

I think it is mainly a different approach, a different philosophy of teaching (unless it is a necessity dicated by pupil numbers, but that is not the case in Germany), and I don't think it inherently works better or worse than any other philosophy.

I would be happy for one of my boys to attend mixed age range classes, I think it would be good for him, but if the other one were ever the oldest, I could see problems.

I would look at this from two sides: do you find anything problematic with the approach itself, and secondly, how would you think your child would fit into it.

Good luck,

Daniela

[Sam B]

You're right though, my daughter has been put in a mixed year class where she is in the younger year, and I'm quite pleased. I wouldn't be pleased if she was in the older year. Tricky one.

[ourquest]

As long as the children gain a good grasp of basic age-appropriate reading, writing and math skills during the first few years then the rest is essentially learned through interaction, and there could be good benefits there with the mixed ages in one class.
I would (personally) assume that they (the school) know it works and have had great success in the past, and then only if it is apparent that there is a problem for your child during the year would I show any concern. But by all means discuss it with your teacher or principal, I am sure this will put your mind at rest and is a good opportunity to establish a bond with them early on.

[Tia Maria]

Holland wrote:

I haven't got children but I do work in the early years field and studied child development and effective learning environments, and I must say that research and evidence suggests that mixed age and ability classess are extremely beneficial for all of the children. The younger children learn from the older ones, and aspire to be like them and the older one's complete activities themselves and then help the younger ones or less able, thus reinforcing their own learning and learning how to interpret the information in a different way.

Thanks holland, this is the kind of info I was after. As he has not experienced this mixed year thing yet, I have no idea whether its a good thing or not. I just don't really understand how it is more beneficial than keeping the class, who have the same age and experience, together.

For instance if Class A have had 6 months schooling and Class B have had 18 months schooling, shouldn't there be a marked difference in their levels? Shouldn't Class B have gained a whole bucketful of knowledge in that year that Class A don't have? Does this mean Class A misses out on that years work or does it mean that Class B effectively has to repeat that years work?

I'm not saying this system is any worse or better than any other, I just don't understand how a teacher can make it work.

Cheers

Tia

[janrzm]

I would say that numeracy & literacy are age & ability targeted,some things would be repeated at an earlier age [ie rec & year 1] which at that age is needed.
Both year groups don't necessarily need to be working at the same levels.
Obviously the teacher needs to be on the ball with this - in a class of 36 ours is .
With regards to science & history at our school this is done on a 2 year cycle so no child misses out on a topic and equally doesn't repeat it either.

[gpbenton]

I seem to remember that my junior school had this arrangement when I was 10 and 11 in Surrey.

As I've ended up in New Zealand it doesn't seem to have done me any harm.:cheers

[Carol]

I'm not saying this system is any worse or better than any other, I just don't understand how a teacher can make it work.

Cheers

Tia



All kids - no matter what age they are should be taught at their ability level.
So in ANY class - even a single age class - there will be quite a wide range of abilities to be catered for.
The school will be able to re-assure you in the new term.
Panic not.

[Lupin]

Our school has a roll of 54 (dropping to the 40s next year) and three classes. Task boards seem to be the way this is effectively manaaged- that way the class is rarely working all together on exactly the same thing (unless it's topic work, art, music etc where the age range is only beneficial).

[peebles16]

Composite classes as they are called here in Scotland are pretty standard in smaller rural areas and teacher has to vary the curriculum to meet the needs of the kids - we've got really wee schools with kids aged 5-8 taught by one teacher. Lots of small group work, similar topics but delivered at different levels and seems to work well
Karen

[migratory birds]

Mixed age classes work best when teachers are comfortable working with the range. Some prefer working with single ages, others mixed age.

Some parents want nothing to do with mixed age groups while others think it's the best way to go. There was a VERY heated meeting at our school last year as the administrator needed to make decisions about which classes to have mixed and single age.

If a teacher gets stuck with in the mode of thinking that this is what she'll/he'll teach the Year 3s and this is what will be taught to the Year 2's, it doesn't work as well as one who has an idea of what kids in that range are capable of, starting at the beginning and moving on from there.

For kids are working above grade level it's an easy way for them to access peers to learn with - same goes for kids who are working below grade level or less socially mature to have mates a year younger to connect with.

[Tia Maria]

migratory birds wrote:

Some parents want nothing to do with mixed age groups while others think it's the best way to go. There was a VERY heated meeting at our school last year as the administrator needed to make decisions about which classes to have mixed and single age.

There are definitely quite a few parents anti it at our school and others that think its fine, it does seem to be dependent on whether you have the older or younger children. As said previously I'm still on the fence about it.

My concerns mainly come from experience level, more than age, I just can't see how an extra year of learning can't make a difference?

The school already operates a buddy system, where older children help younger children with maths, IT etc and I think this is great and works on lots of levels. I'm just not sure I like it forming the main part of my son's day, turning him into a mini classroom assistant helping those younger.

The class will be about 25 with half older and half younger and while I think its great for a child to revisit what they have learnt and to experience easier topics that boost their confidence, it all depends how much this is balanced with new subjects.

I will definitely have a chat with the new teacher and head so they can explain it all to me, they are all very approachable, and as you say if its worked before, they should be able to explain how it is better than keeping the original class together. :nice1

Cheers

Tia

[Carey]

All kids - no matter what age they are should be taught at their ability level.
So in ANY class - even a single age class - there will be quite a wide range of abilities to be catered for.
The school will be able to re-assure you in the new term.
Panic not.

Agree completely. Go and talk to school staff at the beginnning of term and if you still have doubts after a few weeks, go in again.

I've taught more mixed age groups than not; like so much of teaching it depends on the individuals concerned and their range of abilities irrespective of age. However here in UK I find it frustrating that very few schools will allow an able child to move up a year, in fact practically unheard of, alth' its expected that the teacher challenges them enough whilst they stay in the correct class for their age!

[JoanneG]

I wouldn't worry Carey, you already know he's with talented teachers and if he takes after his sisters he'll probably be working at a higher level than kids his own age anyway!

Don't forget that it's not all about what he's learning academically, there's important things to learn about helping others less able and thus gaining in self esteem and confidence at the same time.

He's been able to adapt to so much already, he'll be fine.