Are class assignments random for students in elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Are class selections random? There's a group of 4 girls that are always in the same class together. 2nd to 5th grade now. The moms are good friends btw.

[Anonymous]

Random? No. Carefully thought out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are class selections random? There's a group of 4 girls that are always in the same class together. 2nd to 5th grade now. The moms are good friends btw.

No, they are not (ES Teacher)

[Anonymous]

It takes us hours every spring to figure out classes for the following year.

[Anonymous]

Just curious what goes into it? Do you all factor in who got along particularly well and who didn’t get along as well? Who tended to get in trouble when together? Based on my kids’ class assignments it seems like these things are considered. They usually have at least one good friend from the previous year’s class with whom they didn’t get into “trouble” (talking too much/getting too excited). And they tend not to be placed with the kids who they had a little too much fun with.

[Anonymous]

No, not random. I have friends who teach and they said that it takes ages to develop class lists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what goes into it? Do you all factor in who got along particularly well and who didn’t get along as well? Who tended to get in trouble when together? Based on my kids’ class assignments it seems like these things are considered. They usually have at least one good friend from the previous year’s class with whom they didn’t get into “trouble” (talking too much/getting too excited). And they tend not to be placed with the kids who they had a little too much fun with.

Yes. We also look at boy:girl numbers, where IEP and ESOL students are placed (for servicing hours), other academic needs/strengths and level of parental needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what goes into it? Do you all factor in who got along particularly well and who didn’t get along as well? Who tended to get in trouble when together? Based on my kids’ class assignments it seems like these things are considered. They usually have at least one good friend from the previous year’s class with whom they didn’t get into “trouble” (talking too much/getting too excited). And they tend not to be placed with the kids who they had a little too much fun with.

Yes. We also look at boy:girl numbers, where IEP and ESOL students are placed (for servicing hours), other academic needs/strengths and level of parental needs.

We don't factor in parental requests unless we see the same issue they are talking about. If we see Larla and Larlo are like oil and water, we will separate them. If a parent asks for Marlo and Marla to be together because they are good friends, maybe but not if it interferes with other factors (ESOL, Special Ed, academic levels, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes us hours every spring to figure out classes for the following year.

You keep saying this but then what about all the new kids that show up over the summer? Do you just randomly throw them in wherever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what goes into it? Do you all factor in who got along particularly well and who didn’t get along as well? Who tended to get in trouble when together? Based on my kids’ class assignments it seems like these things are considered. They usually have at least one good friend from the previous year’s class with whom they didn’t get into “trouble” (talking too much/getting too excited). And they tend not to be placed with the kids who they had a little too much fun with.

Yes. We also look at boy:girl numbers, where IEP and ESOL students are placed (for servicing hours), other academic needs/strengths and level of parental needs.

We don't factor in parental requests unless we see the same issue they are talking about. If we see Larla and Larlo are like oil and water, we will separate them. If a parent asks for Marlo and Marla to be together because they are good friends, maybe but not if it interferes with other factors (ESOL, Special Ed, academic levels, etc).

PP here. We do the same. By “parental needs” I meant how much of the teacher’s attention and time the parents(s) require (high need vs low).

[Anonymous]

Many years ago, the principal at our elementary school would try to honor teacher requests. But, she had one caveat: if she honored it, she would not listen to any complaints. I never requested a teacher and don't know how many did.

When I was teaching, at the end of the year, as a grade level team, we tried to recommend class lists (without teacher named) for the next grade. We tried to separate those who needing separating and balance troublemakers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Do teachers get class assignment randomly or seasoned teacher(s) get to pick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do teachers get class assignment randomly or seasoned teacher(s) get to pick?

I recently retired. We never were able to pick. We formed classes the same as the other posts above. The lists were something like “Class A, Class B…”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious what goes into it? Do you all factor in who got along particularly well and who didn’t get along as well? Who tended to get in trouble when together? Based on my kids’ class assignments it seems like these things are considered. They usually have at least one good friend from the previous year’s class with whom they didn’t get into “trouble” (talking too much/getting too excited). And they tend not to be placed with the kids who they had a little too much fun with.

Yes, these are things we definitely take into consideration

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes us hours every spring to figure out classes for the following year.

You keep saying this but then what about all the new kids that show up over the summer? Do you just randomly throw them in wherever?

Yes, if the class sizes are the same.