tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post8160617952146610933..comments2023-05-09T02:16:02.410-07:00Comments on Cat Tales and Then Some: Another Year AheadCatharinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-31298969900229924672007-10-18T09:25:00.000-07:002007-10-18T09:25:00.000-07:00So, like, it's October. Has your year started yet?...So, like, it's October. Has your year started yet?Eviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212038923735410573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-69825441873208995082007-08-25T23:12:00.000-07:002007-08-25T23:12:00.000-07:00Cathy, I hope you have a great year in the classro...Cathy, I hope you have a great year in the classroom. With all four of our children now attending school this season, I can only hope that their teachers will be as caring, imaginative and professional as you are!Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11440657052901467269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-19511399096209833702007-08-10T15:54:00.000-07:002007-08-10T15:54:00.000-07:00David raises an interesting point - it's called lo...David raises an interesting point - it's called looping. One of my favourite years was when I took my grade one class on with me into grade 2. I already knew the children and had established a partnership with parents. I still receive the ocassional letter or card from three of those students. Most of teaching is about relationship building. Once you have the students trust the teaching is so much easier and effective.Catharinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15545492696432754953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-25793357360800650802007-08-08T19:28:00.000-07:002007-08-08T19:28:00.000-07:00When I was working in the classrooms, I found that...When I was working in the classrooms, I found that there were those who saw teaching simply as a job, and then there were those that were passionate and were amazing teachers no matter how many kids they had.It was always interesting to me that those who simply saw it as a job struggled with the responsibilities, no matter how many or how few kids they had. Those who have a passion for teaching, and who truly loved being there, were the ones who were less overwhelmed, no matter how many or how few kids they had (although I did always prefer it when my kids were in smaller classes). For you Cathy, I can say with complete objectivity that you are a teacher in the latter group. You are one of the best there is, and I believe that you have had a huge impact on many a young life.Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874576244151892714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-89475549564790863072007-08-08T18:22:00.000-07:002007-08-08T18:22:00.000-07:00that's like asking, is it better to care for 4 pat...that's like asking, is it better to care for 4 patients or 8 patients? 4 of course!!!! better care and more attentionJennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14485061910044084617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-53601193041596476252007-08-07T18:36:00.000-07:002007-08-07T18:36:00.000-07:00The teacher is the primary factor in the equation....The teacher is the primary factor in the equation. That said, there does come a breaking point. Clearly 40 in an elementary class is too high. I think the number can also vary depending on the nature of the community/families from which the students come. Jane Finch in Toronto would demand smaller classes than the Iowa City or Oakton area.<BR/><BR/>One thing that Evie left out on the split class in Iowa, Josh had the same teacher and those in his grade for two years in a row.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09802475785134086208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-42180910725718808072007-08-07T07:13:00.000-07:002007-08-07T07:13:00.000-07:00while i agree that a good teacher is going to be a...while i agree that a good teacher is going to be a good teacher regardless of the class size, i would still prefer my child to be in a smaller class. It just makes more sense that they would get more attention and personalized help that way.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00680174673288007269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15085205.post-86199321822275018082007-08-05T16:07:00.000-07:002007-08-05T16:07:00.000-07:00All of my teaching was in post-secondary education...All of my teaching was in post-secondary education. I found 10-15 students in a class to be a good size. Sometimes fewer than ten did not provide enough variety and depth for discussions, although that's probably less of an issue in graduate-level courses. More than 15 allows some people to hide behind, or be overwhelmed by, the more active participants. More than 25 is tough for teachers to manage meaningful interaction with all, substantive evaluation, etc. Classrooms of 10-15 allowed us to form very nice "communities of learners." Those were wonderful experiences.<BR/><BR/>Joshua was in split grade classes from grades 1-5. It worked very well for him. He, and Dave and I, got to know his teachers very well and vice versa. I think it's especially beneficial in the first few years of school when just a few months difference in age is quite significant developmentally. A split grade system allows the younger ones adequate time to develop and "catch up" with their older peers.Eviehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00212038923735410573noreply@blogger.com