50 kids in a class

[Anonymous]

Again, if you have two excellent teachers and 50 kids (plus 2 aides), why aren't you better off with two classes of 25 (each with an excellent teacher and an aide) and a desk for every kid? The large class/inadequate facilities clearly aren't the price you have to pay for an excellent teacher on this scenario.

Or are things so bad at Lafayette that you'll put up with anything to have access to one of the few excellent teachers? Because that's what it sounds like...

[Anonymous]

the school was remodeled in the 70s for open classroom. now it is overcrowded. we don't have kids at lafayette any more but i suspect its as much a facilities issues as a teacher issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, if you have two excellent teachers and 50 kids (plus 2 aides), why aren't you better off with two classes of 25 (each with an excellent teacher and an aide) and a desk for every kid? The large class/inadequate facilities clearly aren't the price you have to pay for an excellent teacher on this scenario.

Or are things so bad at Lafayette that you'll put up with anything to have access to one of the few excellent teachers? Because that's what it sounds like...

This is what I continue to ask myself. I have a feeling with X teacher being gone on maternity leave for what could be 30-40% of the school year there was an influx of parents requesting Y teacher to avoid subs and interruption. This, of course is just a theory...please don't kill me and yes I am a current parent at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog in this hunt, but I'm curious about something.
To all you parents who have kids in the class (and those who don't), would you be OK with 50 kids and an aide in a class? If not, why not? It's functionally equivalent to what is going on now. No expertise is needed for crowd control function the second teacher is performing during the lessons - the aide can do that just fine.

Do you really not see the difference between two experienced teachers (plus two student teachers) and a teacher and an aide? I'm not sure many of you understand how classroom management is not something that everyone can do, but when you do have teachers who are skilled at it the classroom runs beautifully. OTOH, when you have a not-so-great teacher he or she can't handle even a small class. In this case there are two teachers who are both good at management and teaching. I do understand how the thought of this type of class would be off-putting to lots of parents and maybe not the best thing for every student; however, it's not unique. Personally, I'm happy to have my child in this class rather than in a class with a first-time teacher or a bad teacher. Ultimately, the kids in this class and in this school are extremely lucky and most will go on to have successful school careers wherever they wind up because they have parents who are educated and who care. Lafayette now has the largest enrollment of any school in the city, so it's obvious there are lots of growing pains. However, it's hard to argue that it's not a very good school.

It's not unique? Please point me to all the other classes in DC with 50 children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, if you have two excellent teachers and 50 kids (plus 2 aides), why aren't you better off with two classes of 25 (each with an excellent teacher and an aide) and a desk for every kid? The large class/inadequate facilities clearly aren't the price you have to pay for an excellent teacher on this scenario.

Or are things so bad at Lafayette that you'll put up with anything to have access to one of the few excellent teachers? Because that's what it sounds like...

I've already stated the benefit is their working model of differentiating instruction. See the second example here of how these two teachers operate: http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/blog/equity-alliance/2010/04/19/ins-and-outs-co-teaching-wendy-murawski
It's a union they created on their own; they've already been team teaching. Anyone who invokes the maternity leave should be cited with harassment. Period.

To the pp I quote: just be happy with the school you chose, it's okay to be without bashing other entire schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, if you have two excellent teachers and 50 kids (plus 2 aides), why aren't you better off with two classes of 25 (each with an excellent teacher and an aide) and a desk for every kid? The large class/inadequate facilities clearly aren't the price you have to pay for an excellent teacher on this scenario.

Or are things so bad at Lafayette that you'll put up with anything to have access to one of the few excellent teachers? Because that's what it sounds like...

I've already stated the benefit is their working model of differentiating instruction. See the second example here of how these two teachers operate: http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/blog/equity-alliance/2010/04/19/ins-and-outs-co-teaching-wendy-murawski
It's a union they created on their own; they've already been team teaching. Anyone who invokes the maternity leave should be cited with harassment. Period.

To the pp I quote: just be happy with the school you chose, it's okay to be without bashing other entire schools.

Cited with harassment by the DCUM etiquette police?? Don't think so. I was simply stating how some parents probably requested a certain teacher because they didn't want a sub. I am not in that class so I don't know for sure nor did I make the request. Do you even know what harassment is??

I wonder why when NYC instituted this, they maxed the increase of class size to 25% increase (20 max class can now have 25 students). http://www.uft.org/teaching/integrated-co-teaching-collaborative-team-teaching-ctt

GA class size limit must stay the same whether co-taught or not http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/Frequently_Asked_Questions_Regarding_LRE.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F6A4793945CC17E723333AA630EAB1186A8B437735B37FC12C&Type=D

FL state constitution does not allow for class size to be increased with co-teaching and implements 18 max students for third graders
http://www.theledger.com/article/20050817/NEWS/508170367

There is a reason for class size limits...and it's not just student/teacher ratio.

Anyone that tries to rationalize this method (without proper accommodations) is simply in denial. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, if you have two excellent teachers and 50 kids (plus 2 aides), why aren't you better off with two classes of 25 (each with an excellent teacher and an aide) and a desk for every kid? The large class/inadequate facilities clearly aren't the price you have to pay for an excellent teacher on this scenario.

Or are things so bad at Lafayette that you'll put up with anything to have access to one of the few excellent teachers? Because that's what it sounds like...

I've already stated the benefit is their working model of differentiating instruction. See the second example here of how these two teachers operate: http://www.equityallianceatasu.org/blog/equity-alliance/2010/04/19/ins-and-outs-co-teaching-wendy-murawski
It's a union they created on their own; they've already been team teaching. Anyone who invokes the maternity leave should be cited with harassment. Period.

To the pp I quote: just be happy with the school you chose, it's okay to be without bashing other entire schools.

Yes, you've already stated that, but it doesn't make sense. You can differentiate without putting all 50 kids (and 4 adults) in the same classroom. And you don't have to deprive anyone of a desk in order to do it. And, yes, I understand co-teaching. I've done it and, in fact, continue to teach in an environment where 2 classes are frequently combined (but involving older kids, 32 students max). Again, collaboration is good, but it doesn't require 50 third-graders in the same classroom continually. Nor is the model described here (one teacher lecturing, another keeping kids quiet/engaged) co-teaching.

[Anonymous]

I just came from touring one of the newly remodeled schools. While touring, we came upon the gym/health class and I counted it was 60 students sitting a classroom with one instructor. My immediate observation would say that the class was engaging but some could have viewed it as a little chaotic.

[Anonymous]

3rd graders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came from touring one of the newly remodeled schools. While touring, we came upon the gym/health class and I counted it was 60 students sitting a classroom with one instructor. My immediate observation would say that the class was engaging but some could have viewed it as a little chaotic.

how many were sitting on the floor with clip boards?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came from touring one of the newly remodeled schools. While touring, we came upon the gym/health class and I counted it was 60 students sitting a classroom with one instructor. My immediate observation would say that the class was engaging but some could have viewed it as a little chaotic.

Gym/health class is way different. Easy to be engaged fir 1 hour class, but 3rd graders on the floor, all day???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just came from touring one of the newly remodeled schools. While touring, we came upon the gym/health class and I counted it was 60 students sitting a classroom with one instructor. My immediate observation would say that the class was engaging but some could have viewed it as a little chaotic.

Gym/health class is way different. Easy to be engaged fir 1 hour class, but 3rd graders on the floor, all day???

Are you really using gym/health class as a comparison? Wow.

[Anonymous]

Let me be more specific, it was a health class and the room was extremely over crowded. When it was brought to the principal's attention, it was greeted with an apology. The blame was the budget.

[Anonymous]

Any update on how this is going?

[Anonymous]

They are still using the 50 student model and it sucks....