25 Kids in K Class (Wayside)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know whether class sizes are going up next year?

Obviously depends on your school - but, that said, Weast's budget called for an increase of 1 student per class in elementary schools. This year the "maximum class size" for Kindergarten was 26 - so you had to have most or all of your K classes exceeding 26 students per class to receive an additional teacher. Next year, the "max class size" will be 27 - so most or all of the K classes will have to exceed 27 to be budgeted to receive an additional teacher in April/May. Practically speaking, usually the classes have to exceed by 2 in September to get the attention of central administration as they assume that the class sizes will decrease by 1 or 2 during the year. Thus, if you even have an INKLING that you will be registering at your local public school, do it, so that the school can properly account for attendance and get the resources it needs BEFORE school starts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:25:1 is the MCPS standard for K.

I think 25:1 is actually the gold standard - next year I think it's not considered overcrowded (and in need of a new teacher) until 28:1. Many elementary schools had K classes of 27:1 this year.

DD had 16 in K, 17 in 1st and now has 19 in 2nd. I didn't realize those were on the low end for MCPS. (Need to get my head out of the sand, I guess!) Our school decided to add additional sections/teachers two years to cut class size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:25:1 is the MCPS standard for K.

I think 25:1 is actually the gold standard - next year I think it's not considered overcrowded (and in need of a new teacher) until 28:1. Many elementary schools had K classes of 27:1 this year.

DD had 16 in K, 17 in 1st and now has 19 in 2nd. I didn't realize those were on the low end for MCPS. (Need to get my head out of the sand, I guess!) Our school decided to add additional sections/teachers two years to cut class size.

which pyramid does your school feed into? which part of the county are you in?

[Anonymous]

So, I was wondering can anyone tell us what their experience has been with a 25 or 27 to one ratio for their kids. I understand tha this is not idea but how have people found the reality of this experience to be? were their kids happy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I was wondering can anyone tell us what their experience has been with a 25 or 27 to one ratio for their kids. I understand tha this is not idea but how have people found the reality of this experience to be? were their kids happy?

My kid is in a K classroom of 27 kids. He's happy and seems to be learning lots. Probably could be learning alot more, but, it's Kindergarten. That said, I know that others had similarly large classes and had issues - but in the end it boiled down to classroom management. If you have a teacher who cannot manage the class size, then all the time is spent on that and not on learning. That can be a crap shoot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:25:1 is the MCPS standard for K.

I think 25:1 is actually the gold standard - next year I think it's not considered overcrowded (and in need of a new teacher) until 28:1. Many elementary schools had K classes of 27:1 this year.

DD had 16 in K, 17 in 1st and now has 19 in 2nd. I didn't realize those were on the low end for MCPS. (Need to get my head out of the sand, I guess!) Our school decided to add additional sections/teachers two years to cut class size.

which pyramid does your school feed into? which part of the county are you in?

upper NW - Gaithersburg area

[Anonymous]

Must be a title 1/focus school..schools don't get to just pick how many teachers they have..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would volunteer in the classroom and observe what is really going on and how much learning is taking place. My DS is in Kingergarten (MCPS) and his class only has 16 students. One teacher and no aides. I observed the class and the teacher does a very admirable job keeping things going. But I did notice that when they are doing reading groups with her the other children participate in activitiy centers independently. With no aide in the class if there are any questions or problems that arise in these centers the students are very much on their own. The teacher also has to have her eyes and ears every where which must be difficult to simply focus on the task at hand. The teacher also has to be very organized and have a clear lesson plan for the day as they have very little time or energy to do much more than the basics. If your classroom does have an aide or even a regular parent volunteer that's one more set of eyes, ears and hands to help with the kids and that can make a big difference.

Is this the difference? My child is at Norwood, and when they are in small reading groups, everyone is in reading, not waiting their turn. Their are enough teachers to get the whole group through the 70 minutes of reading at once. This might explain why Norwood has more time for the extras. I am not criticizing the MCPS, since they do a fine job, but I always wondered why Norwood could squeeze so many activities in in a day.

[Anonymous]

Plus Norwood and other private schools are able to hand pick their students. They are going to choose the ones who are quick learners and ones with no special needs. They "skim off the top" so to speak. In public schools, every can attend so that means MANY more needs need to be met. My friend teaches K and says every year, she has a handful of kids who enter not recognizing their own name in print, not knowing any letters/sounds. Some can't tell the difference between a letter and a number. Then she has a small handful of kids who are reading. Most know some letters and/or sounds and that's it. She has no assistant and 23 students. She also has at least 2-4 kids w/ an IEP or 504 and usually some non-English speakers.

[Anonymous]

12:18..I wouldn't call the independent activities or centers that kids do "waiting their turn". I know I am painting and idealistic picture..but they are reading the book they will discuss during their group time..doing an exercise on the computer..a worksheet..hopefully a worthwhile activity. It is no doubt smoother if there is another adult to answer questions to and refocus students that need it..but it is amazing how talented teachers can keep the room going..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus Norwood and other private schools are able to hand pick their students. They are going to choose the ones who are quick learners and ones with no special needs. They "skim off the top" so to speak. In public schools, every can attend so that means MANY more needs need to be met. My friend teaches K and says every year, she has a handful of kids who enter not recognizing their own name in print, not knowing any letters/sounds. Some can't tell the difference between a letter and a number. Then she has a small handful of kids who are reading. Most know some letters and/or sounds and that's it. She has no assistant and 23 students. She also has at least 2-4 kids w/ an IEP or 504 and usually some non-English speakers.

That may have been true in the past but in todays market private schools are not as picky as they used to be. If the parents can pay the school will take a chance on an iffy kid. The only advantage is that there are fewer of them in a class. Do not be fooled into thinking that privates do not have kids with major behavioral, emotional and learning issues. It is true too that privates don't have to deal with non English speakers.

[Anonymous]

But privates can also ask those difficult students to leave. Not so in public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But privates can also ask those difficult students to leave. Not so in public school.

In theory, yes, but if the parents are full tuition payers or donors then the administration will do anything to keep them. Teachers are told to suck it up and make it work. This is done at the expense of the other kids in the class. Kids that steal, lie and cheat can be given a pass. Sometimes the pass seems randomly given, but most of the time it's because the parents pay or the kid is a very talented athlete or musician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus Norwood and other private schools are able to hand pick their students. They are going to choose the ones who are quick learners and ones with no special needs. They "skim off the top" so to speak. In public schools, every can attend so that means MANY more needs need to be met. My friend teaches K and says every year, she has a handful of kids who enter not recognizing their own name in print, not knowing any letters/sounds. Some can't tell the difference between a letter and a number. Then she has a small handful of kids who are reading. Most know some letters and/or sounds and that's it. She has no assistant and 23 students. She also has at least 2-4 kids w/ an IEP or 504 and usually some non-English speakers.

My son is in private and has special needs. I only responded because I am not sure many people know that - I didn't before I knew he had a special need.

Good Councel and St. Johns have programs for kids with learning differences.

I agree that the private schools can control the number and level of the kids with special needs.

[Anonymous]

I hate that I can't edit - Good Counsel.