Switching Classes

Home

Chat

Blogs

Collection

Directory

Home : 2002 : March : 17

Switching Classes
By Jennie

I have worked with another teacher for the past four years in a team-teaching situation. We currently ability group our third graders and switch classes for reading and math. I teach the math while she does the reading. Of
course, we support what the other is doing through integrated activities in our own classrooms. We have a group of students who perform at or above grade level (25 kids) and a group who performs below grade level (12) kids. Fortunately we each have an instructional assistant, so the groups can be broken down into smaller groups for more individualized attention. Does it work well? Absolutely!

We are able to challenge the higher group more, while the lower group has things explained on a more concrete level. I do LOTS of manipulative work in both math classes and have found that the lower group seems to benefit from this hands-on style of learning more. The higher group would prefer to work on paper/pencil or critical thinking tasks. Anyway, it is a great situation and I would encourage you and your colleagues to beg your principal to let you try it. As far as scheduling class times between special activities, we just find a ninety minute block everyday and go with it. Actually some days that block is split up by a special activity, and that's okay. The kids switch classrooms in our situation, mainly because all of the math manipulatives are stored in my classroom. This is a good lead into the fourth grade situation for our kids, as they switch classes for EVERY subject. Please e-mail if you have any more questions.