Would it be too much to ask...

...to only have 5-10 students in my classes?

My principal asked how things were going today after summer school was out.  I smiled and requested to only have 5 students in each of my classes this next year.  He laughed.

Oh if only it could be a reality.  I spent the last two days in teacher heaven.  I teach 3 6th graders during the first period of summer school from 8:00-10:00.  Then I teach 4 8th graders from 10:00-12:00.  It is bliss.  I don't have behavior problems.  We sit informally in a small group.  I talk to them.  I teach them.  They listen and answer questions.  We do fun lab activities.  They smile and laugh and eagerly attack the task I give them.

Teaching summer school has been the best decision I have made since I said "YES!" to Nathan.  It is fun and laid back.  There is no stress.  I teach what I want in the order that I want.  I give participation grades.  I don't grade papers because we work through them together.  This is education at its finest.

I am teaching for the first time in a long time.  I am sharing knowledge and helping them understand.  I am not spending all of my time with discipline problems.  I am not rushing from group to group trying to give basic attention.  I am not swamped with papers to grade.

Today I received several compliments.  One of my 6th graders told another teacher at summer school that I was his best teacher ever.  That is a big statement for an 11-year-old boy to make.  Another one of my 6th graders commented that I made science fun and that he was finally understanding things.  And an 8th grader asked why regular class couldn't be so much fun.  I looked at her sadly and said..."There are 4 of you in my class right now...during regular school there are almost 30." 

The kids see how rushed we are.  They feel us cramming information into them like we are stuffing the Christmas turkey.  Cramming doesn't work...not in the long run.  Sure cramming hours before a big test might help you answer 2 or 3 extra questions, but if you were given the same test a week later I bet you wouldn't still know that crammed in information.

Our educational system tries to do the extraordinary.  We teach everyone.  It doesn't matter if the child is male or female.  It doesn't matter the color of their skin or where their home land may be.  It doesn't matter what religion they practice or don't practice.  We offer services to those with metal and physical limitations.  We teach...or rather offer education to everyone.  And even better...we offer it for free.  We even go another step and offer free and/or reduced lunch to those in need.  Those are all amazing things.  And we tend to forget those things.  The media never talks about those things.

But...and there is always a but...we are lacking.  Our classrooms are packed.  They place limits of 28-32 students per teacher.  Have you have tried to teach 29 preteens?  Maybe I should rephrase that question.  Have you ever been lucky enough to be confined in the same room with 29 preteens?  I have.  29 too much?  Try 22....or 18.  Then imagine if you were asking all those kids to stand up and work at a lab table.  Give them instructions which half don't listen to and then run around like a crazed person trying to help every group while hearing students shouting for you at least 30 times a class period.  Then lets throw in grade 140 sets of papers for every assignment you give.  Don't forget special education meetings to discuss and review special ed services.  Add in tutorials and duties.  No wonder I feel tired and stressed at the end of most of my days.

If every child could be in a class of 10-12 students they would learn so much more.  Teachers wouldn't be so stressed.  Teaching and learning would be fun.  But sadly it is all just a whispered wish.  I am glad that I took the summer school job.  I did it for the excellent pay...but I am finding that the reward is so much more than money.  I am teaching.  The kids are excited and happy about learning.  This is what I love.

Comments

[Carole]

Hearing you say all that about teaching only five students at a time made me realize why homeschooling mothers say it's so rewarding for them and so beneficial for their children. That's not to say I'm up for the challenge, but it makes a little more sense to me now.

[Lainey-Paney]

That's so awesome, and I am sure it is very rewarding & refreshing to you.

I had this same type of experience in summer chemistry (in college...)

we had a very small group, & so the professor was able to go at our pace, and make sure that we each got it.
I ended up with an A in there, and really understanding stuff!