It has to do with ratios. The kids chosen for a split need to be able to work independently and not get super distracted easily. My kid was never a candidate for the split classes but my friends whose kids did them were super happy because of the smaller group instruction and differentiation that happened.

Not one of those kids was later held back.

I think it takes an experienced teacher who has taught at least one of the grades before to do well with it.

We live in SF, and DD was in a 4/5 split. I was pleased with it for fourth grade because I wanted DD to be more challenged than she was, and that was great. I was worried about her being in fifth grade and asked the teacher to explain to me how the curriculum would be different and how DD would be challenged. I was satisfied with her answers and fifth grade was NOT a repeat of fourth. It was fine.

That sounds tough, OP. I think this speaks to poor classroom selection by the school or to some really unlucky numbers. Our school does this occasionally but they make sure to make the class about half one grade and about half the other grade.
I would be pretty annoyed and would have complained earlier and I don't tend to complain about anything related to school.

OP here. We are in FCPS. This is our second school in FCPS. The last school did not have this. What concerns me most is the kids being switched out to the other class for nearly half the day. But they aren't actually a part of that class, and that particular teacher is very weak in all areas anyway. Some of them don't feel comfortable there, and don't feel like they are a part of the older class either.

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school does this every year and I don't understand it. Is it common? Last year we had a combined 4/5, and this year we have both that and a combined 2/3. However, the 2/3 has only 3 second graders and the others are in 3rd. The kids in the lower grade of the combined classes are switched out to regular classrooms twice a day for certain subjects. The parents don't like it, and at least some of them did not choose it. Does anyone else have this? The principal says she has no choice because there are a handful of kids that aren't enough to make a new class, but would put the other classes over the limit.

OP, what's your location? Suburbs close in to DC, or farther out? Small school? Public? We're in FCPS and this never happened in either of the two elementaries my child attended. Our experience with so-called "differentiation in the classroom" to meet the needs of both fast and slow learners in the same class (same grade) was not good, so I'm wondering if combined grade level classes present the same problem for teachers who are unrealistically expected to meet the needs of students who may be at very, very different places academically. I know that what you're referring to is a separate situation from differentiation, but unless a teacher is trained and experienced in handling instruction for two grades at the same time -- I would be wary of it.

I was in a split first grade/second grade class in a tiny school as a child in the 70s, and it was fine, but that was so long ago and in such a different region that I don't see how it would apply to a kid's experience here, today. I haven't seen it here myself, and haven't ever heard another parent mention it around here, so was surprised to see a PP saying it's common where he or she is now.

I was a 3rd grader in a 3/4 in the 70s. I think its great for the kids on the lower end but maybe not so great for the older kids. That being said, schools do it to manage class sizes. So would you rather have really big classes in both grades because there are not enough kids to justify another section or take kids from both grades so you have enough to secure another teacher?

My kids have been at schools with K-1 and 1-2 classes and we mostly liked it. It was great when they were in the younger grade because they were exposed to the work of the grade ahead. The next year, they could take on leadership roles in the class and help the youngers. Pull outs were also available for more advanced math and reading, so it was in general a good program. Kids need to be committed for the full two years though: we had some minor issues because of some moves in and out, which affected the balance of the class.

We learned on the West coast that this is sometimes a good way of masking / easing a grade hold-back. So you might have a 2nd grade boy who the school feels should stay in 2nd grade, and by putting them in the combined class they can do it less obviously. Clearly that's not the case for every kid, nor necessarily a formal "policy" but it helps those in the hold back situation when there is one.

Yes, most elementary schools do this. My children are in college and high school,and their ES had a split class almost every year. When I was in elementary school in the seventies, we had split classes every year.

Our elementary school does this every year and I don't understand it. Is it common? Last year we had a combined 4/5, and this year we have both that and a combined 2/3. However, the 2/3 has only 3 second graders and the others are in 3rd. The kids in the lower grade of the combined classes are switched out to regular classrooms twice a day for certain subjects. The parents don't like it, and at least some of them did not choose it. Does anyone else have this? The principal says she has no choice because there are a handful of kids that aren't enough to make a new class, but would put the other classes over the limit.