Experience with Prep/Grade 1 composite classes

Experience with Prep/Grade 1 composite classes

Experiences with Prep/Grade 1 composite classes?

We have been debating on whether my son will start prep next year (turns 5 in late Jan) or he will do another year at kinder. We were leaning towards sending him in prep as academically and socially he is fine, he just has some separation issues at drop offs. However now I'm even more apprehensive as we have just been told they will only be having mixed Prep/year one classes due to low enrollments. I know composite classes can be good in older years to accommodate differing levels of maturity and academics but I'm worried that being his first year at school, how can preps, who may not know how to read/write or even know numbers and alphabet yet, be adequately taught alongside grade ones??

Posted in:  Education, Kids

5 Replies

Anonymous

I’d be more worried about the separation issues.
Teachers are very good at teaching mixed classes. They often send the older kids off with work while they talk to the younger kids etc.
Mosy classes in early primary break off into groups anyway based on where they are at.

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Anonymous

I was in a kinder/prep class as a kid. So there was a mix of kids from ages 4 to 6!
I honestly don't remember it lol but my mum always felt it wasn't an issue and felt it gave me an edge as I was keeping up with the kids the grade above.

I personally am not a huge fan of composite classes but I feel like they're a bigger problem for the older grades than younger ones.

My 10 year old daughter was in a composite class with the grade above last year - soo many social issues due to a maturity difference, it was a nightmare!

My son is in a composite class this year (grade 4/5), he's in the older grade and I've found he's repeating a lot of stuff he did when he was in grade 4 last year which I'm hoping doesn't impact him going in to grade 6 next year!

And honestly, you'll be surprised how many grade one's aren't reading yet as well - kids knowledge levels vary quite a lot at this age and a good teacher can accommodate for everyone!

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Anonymous

It's great because they have so many helpers and usually split to do work so there's only 10 in the group instead of 20+. We loved it.

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Anonymous

And by the way teachers vary their teaching and work to meet the individual needs of every child in their class anyway. So it's just the same. Prep and year one are still young kids who all like the same things like play, songs, games, hands-on activities.

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Anonymous

This is becoming quiet the norm in government schools, not because of enrolment numbers but due to the different capabilities of each student. Whilst one child may be excelling, they have the opportunity to work with the year above them. If the child isn't quiet ready, they have the opportunity to keep practising from the year below. Hope this makes sense.

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