Public school for child who needs small classes????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you explored an IEP or 504?

I can't imagine an IEP or 504 which specifies class size (or staff:student ratio) unless it's talking about a separate, Special Education class.

A 504 can specify small group vs. large group work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you explored an IEP or 504?

I can't imagine an IEP or 504 which specifies class size (or staff:student ratio) unless it's talking about a separate, Special Education class. The closest I've ever seen is class size for a full time, Special Ed class, or testing to take place in a small, nondistracting environment.

A special ed class might suit OPs child and spare her the expense of private school. This will be the second year my first grader gets 12 hrs/week in a pull-out class. He's better able to learn in such a small group yet he still benefits from large group interactions. He's really enjoyed it and there appears to be no stigma associated with getting pulled out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you explored an IEP or 504?

I can't imagine an IEP or 504 which specifies class size (or staff:student ratio) unless it's talking about a separate, Special Education class. The closest I've ever seen is class size for a full time, Special Ed class, or testing to take place in a small, nondistracting environment.

ITA. Unless the child qualifies for a 'special' classroom pullout environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you need to look at schools with fewer than 15 bodies in the room. Do not put her in a setting with say 20 kids and two teachers. Research that looks at a child's engagement in class has to do with the number of people in the room. Not the student teacher ratio. That said, one teacher 14 kids is better than two teachers 20 kids. It is not easy to find in private schools. They do the ratio thing. This is an issue for most kids until 3rd grade. after that it does not seem to matter as much. Look at some kindergartens that are attached to nursery schools. I wish the public schools would make class size a priority in the first few grades, then expand the class sizes later.

Yes and no -- in the private school context where there are 20 kids and two teachers, groups often split up for core subjects and are in different rooms. At least this was true in PreK/K -2nd in my DC's school. The 20 kids are together for circle time, free choice, social studies, and science, but for reading and math they were generally separated and often further subdivided with additional teachers joining to help out. So 10 PreK'ers are on the playground while 5 of their K classmates are playing math games in a breakout room across the hall with their teacher and 5 more K'ers are in the classroom working on a lesson with a math specialist.

[Anonymous]

Yes and no -- in the private school context where there are 20 kids and two teachers, groups often split up for core subjects and are in different rooms. At least this was true in PreK/K -2nd in my DC's school. The 20 kids are together for circle time, free choice, social studies, and science, but for reading and math they were generally separated and often further subdivided with additional teachers joining to help out. So 10 PreK'ers are on the playground while 5 of their K classmates are playing math games in a breakout room across the hall with their teacher and 5 more K'ers are in the classroom working on a lesson with a math specialist.


That sounds pretty complicated for such young kids! I'd still look for fewer kids and fewer teachers overall.

[Anonymous]

Not complicated for the kids -- the teachers take them from place to place and the places are generally in the same wing. Fewer kids in a classroom means a lot less choice socially, especially wrt same-gender friendships. And with kids this young, having two adults around is really helpful because a single adult can't handle one kid's meltdown and every other kid simultaneously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not complicated for the kids -- the teachers take them from place to place and the places are generally in the same wing. Fewer kids in a classroom means a lot less choice socially, especially wrt same-gender friendships. And with kids this young, having two adults around is really helpful because a single adult can't handle one kid's meltdown and every other kid simultaneously.

For many kids that age, multiple teachers is tough as is moving around a lot from classroom to classroom. Less is more at that age in every area including class size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not complicated for the kids -- the teachers take them from place to place and the places are generally in the same wing. Fewer kids in a classroom means a lot less choice socially, especially wrt same-gender friendships. And with kids this young, having two adults around is really helpful because a single adult can't handle one kid's meltdown and every other kid simultaneously.

For many kids that age, multiple teachers is tough as is moving around a lot from classroom to classroom. Less is more at that age in every area including class size.

I'm not the PP but I disagree that this is problematic for "many kids that age". If the child has been in daycare or preschool, chances are they've already experienced mulitple caregivers. My now first grader has ADHD/SPD and difficulty with transitions. I freqently assisted in his classroom and found a very good flow and routine. Out of the 5 kindergarten classes, only a few kids had problems adapting to this environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you explored an IEP or 504?

I can't imagine an IEP or 504 which specifies class size (or staff:student ratio) unless it's talking about a separate, Special Education class.

A 504 can specify small group vs. large group work.

Yes, but that's often implemented as small groups within the classroom, or as a pull-out for certain subjects. Either way, you still have more bodies in the room for at least part of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not complicated for the kids -- the teachers take them from place to place and the places are generally in the same wing. Fewer kids in a classroom means a lot less choice socially, especially wrt same-gender friendships. And with kids this young, having two adults around is really helpful because a single adult can't handle one kid's meltdown and every other kid simultaneously.

For many kids that age, multiple teachers is tough as is moving around a lot from classroom to classroom. Less is more at that age in every area including class size.

I'm not the PP but I disagree that this is problematic for "many kids that age". If the child has been in daycare or preschool, chances are they've already experienced mulitple caregivers. My now first grader has ADHD/SPD and difficulty with transitions. I freqently assisted in his classroom and found a very good flow and routine. Out of the 5 kindergarten classes, only a few kids had problems adapting to this environment.

IMO, 5 is A LOT of kids whose needs are not being met!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not complicated for the kids -- the teachers take them from place to place and the places are generally in the same wing. Fewer kids in a classroom means a lot less choice socially, especially wrt same-gender friendships. And with kids this young, having two adults around is really helpful because a single adult can't handle one kid's meltdown and every other kid simultaneously.

For many kids that age, multiple teachers is tough as is moving around a lot from classroom to classroom. Less is more at that age in every area including class size.

I'm not the PP but I disagree that this is problematic for "many kids that age". If the child has been in daycare or preschool, chances are they've already experienced mulitple caregivers. My now first grader has ADHD/SPD and difficulty with transitions. I freqently assisted in his classroom and found a very good flow and routine. Out of the 5 kindergarten classes, only a few kids had problems adapting to this environment.

IMO, 5 is A LOT of kids whose needs are not being met!

I said a "few" kids, not 5 kids. There are 5 kindergarten classes which is about 110 kids. In a population that size, there will always be "some" kids who don't do well with the routine/curricula/socializing, etc. That's why we have IEPs and 504s so there is a plan to meet every childs educational needs.