2Nd/3rd Combo Class, Positve Thing?

My husband and I are both teachers and he has taught several combo classes. They are all done a little differently, so I would ask how the class is structured if you're not sure. For example, my husband grouped kids by ability for teaching reading, rather than by grade level, which makes more sense. Some younger children are advanced readers and vice-versa, so it makes more sense for them to be grouped by their level. He did teach each grade at their own math level though. I attended a workshop where the presenter said to think of the real world, where we are not all placed in little groups by age. Kids with similar learning needs can be different ages, so if it's done correctly, it makes sense to group them that way in school. If it's only because they don't have enough kids from either grade to make a whole class, I would want to make sure the kids' needs are being met, and they are being taught and challenged at their instructional level. If your son is feeling good about it, then that's a good sign, but you may just want to ask the teacher a few questions about the curriculum and structure of the class.

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It's fine. It usually means that those kids that get placed in those classes are self starters and high achievers because they need to be able to work independently, at times. My son did a 1st/2nd combo class last yr and he was in 2nd. I was feeling funny about it, too, but it worked out fine.

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Hi...I was IN a 3/4th grade combo class (me being in 3rd grade...there were 5 or 6 or us put in with the 4th graders) and we were told that it is because as already mentioned that we could work independently and that we were a little "smarter" and so we could be there. (worked for me :-D). However, now that most of my children are raised now...our last two (twins) are seniors this year. They are in a charter school with only 110 kids in grades K-12. So, they put 10 - 12th graders in classes together and it is not a problem. Now that our kids are 12th grade, they do have lower grades with them. So I don't think it is an issue, especially since your son is enjoying himself in the classroom and with the teacher.

I was told by my sons teacher that combos are okay but you always want your child to be the yonger level in the class. I think it will push the child to work and learn at a higher level.

I have taught combo classes twice. The first time it was my first year teaching, and the second was my fourth year. The second time around, there were two 3rd/4th combo classes, and we switched the kids for language arts and math. That situation was much better and organized b/c the students were getting grade level instruction. What you have to do as a parent is become familiar w/ the state standards for your child's grade level. Make sure what he is learning is grade level appropriate. Don't be afraid to ask the teacher how she is managing instruction. That way you might feel better about it.

A., My oldest daughter was recently in a 4-5 combo class, she being in 5th grade. I was concerned at the beginning of the year because my daughter has always been an A student, good citizen in class, all those positive things. Her 5th grade teacher explained that 1) the school was trying to cut down the class size for all the 4th & 5th grade classes, and 2) most of the children in the class were highly motivated & independent workers. This sounded just fine. I helped in the class every Friday. What I found was that there were several 4th & 5th graders who worked at higher-than-grade-level, some who worked at their grade level, with the normal amount of instruction, and then there were 5-6 who needed more attention. I worked with that group who needed more attention. Throughout the year, I kept checking the work from the other 5th grade classes, and the 5-6 combo class and found that my daughter was working on all the same projects, at the same level or above as the other classes. It was a really good year. Now, from my daughter's point of view, she did not really like it. The work was fine, the class was fine, it was that she wanted her group to have more attention from the teacher. It is so difficult for the teacher in this situation. Our teacher was fantastic, but it really is a huge challenge. She has been teaching a long time and has taught combo classes before. At our school, the teachers rotate having the combo classes (when they are needed) so that no one gets burned out. One other concern I had during the year was that I wanted my daughter to have the same lunch time, assemblies, and other activities with the rest of the 5th graders & for the most part, she did. I think if you can be involved in the classroom at all -- do so. Certainly make sure you are in contact with the teacher. Keep checking in with your son to see how he feels about the class and that he is being challenged. Have a great school year! Peace, B.

I do not think it is a positive thing. My daughter was in a combo class last year. It was just Kinder/1st grade. My husband and I were excited. We thought she would learn so much more and the class would be more challenging to her. She was bored most of the year. I would have rather she be in a regular Kinder class. I guess hind sight is 20/20. If your son stays in that class, make sure you know what the curriculum (sp?) is and make sure the teacher sticks to it. There were about a dozen kinder kids in my daughter's combo class and I am sorry to say but those kids were bored and had to work independently quite frequently. Maybe it doesn't make a difference since it's Kinder/1st Grade, but first impressions are lasting and if your Kindergartender learns that they have to work independently and not have the attention, it will make them lazy and not want to try especially if the work is "easy" to them. Sorry everyone, but I regret letting her be in that combo class.

Good luck with your son!

Having worked at schools as a volunteer for 5 years, I feel it doesnt benefit the upper grade at all. They basically have to study on their own while the teacher works with one grade and then switches day to day. I refuse to let my kids be in one after a bad experience when my daughter was in 1st and in a k/1st grade combo class. She and other students fell way behind in reading. Teachers have a hard enough time teaching one grade at a time and its not fair for either student or teacher. Good luck!

I was in combined classes in both 3rd grade (3rd/4th grade) and 4th grade(4th/5th grade). We did things that the other classes didn't get to do. My experience was that it was a somewhat more advanced class than the normal grade level. I don't think that you have anything to worry about. My daughter is an elementary school teacher. In her experience, those classes occur when the school doesn't have enough students in a grade to fill another class. It isn't because a student is underachieving. It certainly can be because he is functioning above his grade level.

I asked my teacher friends this same question recently and they all answered with a resounding no! They said it's just not the best thing for kids and really hard on everyone, particularly if you are the older grade.

Hope that helps.
-M

I did 2nd/3rd and maybe 3rd/4th (I can't remember it was so long ago). I was always in the younger course. I know it was fine for me, but I do know that one of the girls in the 2nd/3rd class went back a grade (I ran into her again in 8th grade at a different school). If a child is having a problem, I think it is ok to be in the higher grade (to keep them from failing a grade), but unless it works differently from my class (we all pretty much learned the same thing), I wouldn't want my son in a class like that unless he was in the lower grade. Your son's class could be different, I would ask him questions, and talk to the teacher to see how things are handled.

I see some great answers. As a teacher, I'd say honestly that it depends on the teacher and school. It could be great, or it could be a nightmare to try and do it all as the teacher. Some try to stick the same curriculum the other kids in both grades are doing so that the teacher can only be with your child at most 1/2 the time. Others are more flexible and just do 'reading' with the while class, for example, and the teacher can make accomodations for the different levels. As people mentioned, generally the class size is smaller and they try to put independent children in the class- which can be great because there's less distractions. I would just try and judge the same way as any other class, but not worry about what exact things other 3rd graders are doing- does he seem happy and appropriately challenged in all areas? If so it's proabably fine. Combos are very common.

I was in a 2nd/3rd grad combined class when I was a kid. I remember it being pretty "normal". While my part of the class did our work, the teacher taught the other class. We also did some work together as an entire class too.

When my son was in 2nd grade he was in a 2nd/3rd grade class. He liked it and I found no problems with it. The teacher taught the 3rd grade curriculum and my son went to another teacher for 2nd grade math. As long as your son isn't having any problems I wouldn't worry about it.

Combo classes are fine.
My daughter was in one three times. I had some of my education that way too.
The teachers know how to handle it and it works very well.
Don't worry about it.

Having been a public school teacher before I can tell you that we would put the more mature students in the combo classes because they need to concentrate more than if they have their grade level peers with them. The fact that your son is in grade 3 and placed in a lower combo means he probably needs some extra help in a couple areas where listening to the grade 2 instruction will benefit him but another year in grade 2 won't. It's not a bad thing and lots of positive can come out of it. He'll probably mature a lot this year since he's one of the "older" students in the class. Just wanted to give you the teacher perspective.