How many kids are in your child's class....(vent)

[Priscilla]

AND what grade are they in??

As of today there are 24 in Will's KINDERGARTEN class.

Texas limit is 22 but it's easy peasy to get an exemption. They sent out a letter telling us they were at 23 around Christmas and yesterday Will told me there was a new kid starting TODAY.



I know EVERYONE needs equal oppurtunity for an eduction but I am not sure they rezoned us as well as they could have. (3 elementaries in our area that covers about 5-6 differnt neighborhood, less than about a 5 miles radius.).

Our school has about 750. The other school has in the same ballpark and I have no clue what the NEW school has (just opened in the fall).

William's teacher has recognized that he needs more to stay interested and she nominated him for GT. The testing for that starts in April.

I feel like this year has really been a waste and has truly held him back. I don't think they are even to 20 yet. (they are couting to 100 but not a single sheet of homework has gone over 15). He's ADDING in his head.

I don't want to give him home school work after he's spent 7 hours in school but I don't know what to do. His teacher said she'd give him seperate work and hasnt. With that many kids I understand why.

Part of me wants to just withdrawl him and start homeschool late in the game.

The other part of me wants to go ahead and see how things go with GT (for 1st grade, next fall).



So again. How many are in YOUR child's class?

[*Celeste*]

my son's first grade class is 24. which IRKS me! i think the limit is 22 as well here.
my other son's fourth grade class was threaten with having 26 in each class. The limit. But we all wrote letters and they opened up another classroom. So we have 19 in each or so.

[nikkiARNGwife]

DS goes to a small private school and has 14 right now..his is actually the largest class in the entire school K3-12 so we're lucky.

When I was teaching I had between 29-32 at all times which was always so hard.

I've been worried that this year academically has been a waste for Avery b/c his teacher tested his reading and before Christmas he was already reading at grade 2.3 level. She is letting him participate in Accelerated Reading already though so that helps to keep him occupied when he races through is work and gets bored. Yesterday when he got home I asked him what they did new today and he said, "we counted to 20" in a really bored voice lol...the kid can count way higher than 20.

But he's needed this year socially..he stayed home with me til kindergarten and the first month or so we struggled a little with the social side of school and learning the routines..now though he's caught up with all that, so I'm looking forward to 1st grade and hopefully something more challenging for him.

[rachaelsscraps]

There's about 20 children in my son's class, which I thought was a lot. 2 have moved away, so it was more... there are 2 helpers along with the teacher in his classroom, which helps but I'm not very happy with the way the class is run. My son gets in trouble all the time, for stupid things... he has a speech problem for which he sees a speech therapist, and part of the problem is speaking too loud... yet he gets written up (yes, written up!) for speaking too loud.
Urgh.

One of the local elementary schools closed a couple of years ago, so they smooshed all of the kids from that school into the other 3 elementary schools that are in town. It's terrible. I really want to homeschool my son, but since I also work at home and take care of my 1 1/2 year old, I don't know if I have it in me, though I really think it'd be better for him in the long run.

[rachaelsscraps]

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

Yesterday when he got home I asked him what they did new today and he said, "we counted to 20" in a really bored voice lol...the kid can count way higher than 20.

My son's class is like that. He can count to about 75 (then gets bored, he can actually count past that. lol) But his class has only counted up to 30.

[Sarah8914]

My daughter's class sounds exactly the same. I think they have 23. Generally, her school caps it at 19. Each K class has that many and there are 6, so they should have added another teacher to make a whole new, totally full class (they did that last year, don't know why they took that teacher away!). And I think there are close to 800 or so at her school. Fortunately for us, the are redoing boundaries for next year and we are losing 150 or so kids. We also have many elementary schools within a very short distance!

I don't feel like my DD is challenged at all either, but, for her, kindergarten has been more about the social part of it so she is doing great and loving it. She isn't bored because there is so much to watch and do and they are constantly changing things... but she is a bit ahead as far as reading goes. I'm actually surprised that they are in school for 7 hours and she learns very little. Although her class is counting to 100, so that's good. I'd love to homeschool but know that it's not something I could really handle right now. She missed the GT cut off this year by like, 3 points, but I'm hoping she can get in next year because I know it would be good for her!

I wish I knew what to tell you! Good luck!

[Tracyfish]

My son's Kindergarten class has 18 which is the max they can have. At his school they actually have a teacher that teaches 2nd and 3rd grade at the same time and one that teaches 4th and 5th at the same time to keep the class sizes they way they should be.

I feel ya though on the academic side. At reading time L.J. goes to another teacher who deals with the kids who can already read while some of his classmates are still learning their letters. I'm glad they at least make accomodations for that sort of thing. His school has a lot of migrant worker families that speak Spanish as a first language so he is pretty far ahead of a lot of the kids. I'm hoping when he gets to 2nd and 4th that he'll be put with the teacher that does both grades so he can do a little more advanced work.

[nanienamou]

I don't feel like my DD is challenged at all either, but, for her, kindergarten has been more about the social part of it so she is doing great and loving it.

This. DS had 20 kids in his class in kindergarten last year. I feel that kindergarten is really important for the social part and to get every child on track so they can start first grade as equally as possible. First grade is where the real action is, academically speaking. At least around here.

[Stacey42]

There are i think 22 kids currently in DS1's 2nd grade and 18 in DS2's 1st grade class, but there may be 20. He had a couple new kids come in but I think at least one left. Both their kindergarten classes had 17-18 kids. They teach in pod groups though and the kids move around during the day based on reading & math levels to learn those things with other kids in other classes at the same learning level.

I have no idea if there is a law about it or not but this is a rural county. There is only one primary school (and one of every other school) so there is no place else to send the kids. Many of the rules about class sizes & testing improvements can't be applied here. Plus they let go or had retire at least one teacher at each grade level over the summer who were never replaced due to budget cuts, so this year there is one classroom fewer for each grade.

[HeatherKS]

Dd's kindergarten class has 17 kids in it. Our district caps classes at 18. When dd #1 was in kindergarten they hired a third K teacher at the last minute because class sizes had climbed and would have put them significantly over that number. I think she ended up with 15 in her K class. I think it would be very difficult for a teacher to give individualized instruction to everyone with that many kids in the classroom. Does she at least have a para to help out at times?

[Priscilla]

There was someone in the class at the begining of the year but when I asked Will if anyone helped he looked at me strange.

I do know there is a high school girl that comes in a few times a week.

[crecia27]

We have big classes too. The area is growing so much faster than they can build schools. We have 4 within 3 miles, maybe 5.

[Amber1279]

Ugh, I would kill for 22-24 in a class ... both my kids classes have been at least 30 every year!

[*Celeste*]

Originally Posted by nikkiARNGwife

I've been worried that this year academically has been a waste for Avery b/c his teacher tested his reading and before Christmas he was already reading at grade 2.3 level. She is letting him participate in Accelerated Reading already though so that helps to keep him occupied when he races through is work and gets bored. Yesterday when he got home I asked him what they did new today and he said, "we counted to 20" in a really bored voice lol...the kid can count way higher than 20.

this is still a struggle for me with my 4th grade boy. he was reading at a third grade level in kindergarten and last year they stopped testing him at 10th grade. this is the first year we've had an opportunity to have accelerated math (he's taking 6th grade math), but the rest of the classroom stuff is so beneath him it's really awful. the books they are reading are books he read in 1st grade!

[mummytothree]

DS in Kindy has 16
DD in 3rd has 18
DD in 7th has any where from 16 to 22 in each different period. She tends to have low numbers in her core classes (math, science, English ect..) and higher numbers in elective classes (band, home ec, gym ect...).

[emmasmommy]

there are now 20 in my dd's class. there were 19 but they added 1 when they came back from christmas break. that's pretty par for classes here. there's only one class though...for the whole grade lol

[SmallMoments]

Luke's in 1st grade & has 22. I teach 2nd and have the smallest class- which will be at 23 tomorrow (newbie). The other classes have 24-25. We have one aide to share among the four classes.

[jessica31876]

My kids are in high school and middle school so Im not sure exactly how many kids are in each class as they both have 7 teachers. In Florida though there is a class size limit and if the school does not maintain that limit (or stay under it) then every student over is a fine for the school. I think its 5000 per student? Anyhow my older son told me that at the beginning of the school year his school was scrambling to try to get the right number in each class so they would not get fined. Now when my kids were younger I want to say between 19 and 25 kids was the average. Most classes had a teacher's helper though so the teacher was not stretched so thin trying to give each child individual attention.

[mariewilcox]

Well, you are probably going to laugh out loud when you hear this, but my daughter has 230 students in her whole school - grades K-12. Our town has just under 1000 yearound residents (many more in the summer, but of course they don't go to school here).

To answer your question specifically, there is one 5th grade classroom, and there are 13 kids in it. I have to say that after living all over the country and in big cities, etc. I am so glad to be part of small town America now in more ways than one.

[Sharon Kay]

Well they can SAY whatever they want ... but in my experience they always find a way to add more kids to the class. We were told that when our school became an English as a Second Language (ESL) ... we were going to get more government money and our class sizes should go from about 24 down to the teens. ...the 8 years following that ... we never EVER had a class smaller than 23 ... some went to 28 with some kids speaking no English at all. It was much more difficult for the teachers and they actually increased the student to teacher ratio.

My oldest was in the gifted program ... took until 2nd grade and a teacher recommendation to get him tested ... even though in Kindergarten he could read a newspaper to you and tell you what the story was about ... he was reading Isaac Isamov's (too lazy to make sure spelling is right) Rocky Planets books and could discuss anything about it ... teacher was upset because he wouldn't join the circle on the floor to learn how the letter A sounded ... even though he could do all that.

Basically elementary school was a complete WASTE for him ... he got bussed to the gifted classroom ONCE a week ... the rest of the time they handed him the work, he got it done before recess and spent the rest of the day drawing.

I WISH I had known I could have homeschooled him ... I didn't even know it was an option. I think now he would have FLOWN through the curriculum and probably not go so darn bored and burned out.

Teachers said they would give him "busy work" ... he was sooooooooo bored with that...no challenge ... just extra worksheets to prove he knew what he knew. One of those ... if I could do it all over again ... that boy would have been homeschooled the whole way.

Now in college he has NO DRIVE and is lazy ... never was challenged ... now he just doesn't think it is worth his time to try it.

I would ask if your child is going to get into the gifted program ... how OFTEN does he get to go ... does he have to make up work when he misses time in the classroom (and all of it or just enough to prove he knows the work?) ... what's in it for him???

My son really did like the gifted program ... it was just too bad it was only 1 day a week.

[Kara]

I would be thrilled with 24 in Luc's class!

He has TWENTY EIGHT. I am not happy AT ALL. We actually open enrolled him into this particular school because it is right around the corner from DH's work and we know many families who have been very happy there - and we know the principal. Last year's K classes were around 21-22. This year, they keep adding kids. It's getting ridiculous!!!

He enjoys school, but I do feel like he's missing out. He says that it's hard to learn with so many kids talking, etc. And we've had some real struggles on the behavior end of things - stuff he's apparently picking up at school. Ugh.

[kscwgirl]

Abby's in 1st grade and has 19. It was 20. There are 3 1st grade classrooms at her school. She is pulled out for an advanced reading group (3rd grade level) and pulled for some math.. she told me yesterday that she counted to 233 and then she got bored and stopped.

[sprauncey1]

Last year DS had 22 (the max) in his class (as well as the other 3 K classes).

It is the same this year (22), but I feel like his teacher this year can handle the juggle of the gifted kids/average kids/struggling kids much better. They do the WOW reading program and they just retested. He can now read the red level books (Magic Treehouse) and he is SOOOO excited that he can test on them now. He is way ahead in math too, but his teacher tries to challenge him there too. She really is awesome. There is a lot of social learning still going on in first grade, but the reading/spelling/math learning is way more than Kindergarten.

Last year parents could help out with reading with the kiddos, but this year because some parents made some snarky remarks, they no longer let parents help out academically. But they do have a reading buddy program twice a week with the fifth graders which is good. I come and help out with some art projects or make photocopies for the teacher when I can. I cannot imagine how she handles 22 6 and 7 year olds!!!

[LibbysMommy]

Libby has 25 kids in her classroom. There's 25 more in the other Kindy class at her school. Overall, I've been really disappointed in this entire school year. I do think her teacher is a super sweet girl, but that's not enough, ya know? They have homework everyday and that's not a problem, but it's pretty repetitive stuff. Like right now on Mon/Wed/Fri they have to write the numbers 1-12 twice on a sheet of paper. Libby just wrote her numbers from 1-100 the other night so writing to 12 isn't a big deal for her. I'm glad it's not hard for her, but I do think it's not quite enough of a challenge either. After Christmas break they started sending home a book (it's been the same one all week) for them to read every night. It's basically 6 or 7 pages and it's just about different things the kids in the book like at the playground. It took Libby not even a minute to read it. I know not all the kids are reading so great/at all at this point, but again, not much of a challenge for her. There is a little boy in her class who is reading at the 6th grade level and they don't have anything different for him to do either. I can't imagine just how bored he must be!! The teacher told me at her last parent/teacher conference that she had a speech eval done on Libby because when she gets into group situations she noticed she's got a tendency to stutter. Turns out she doesn't have a stuttering problem, she just feels rushed when she's talking during circle time (where they all sit on the floor and share and talk). She's feeling rushed so she ends up forgetting what she's trying to say and ends up using a lot of filler ummmm and uhhh's. Don't even get me started on the social aspect. I've noticed such a change in Libby this year. Before Christmas break we were really butting heads and her attitude was awful. During Christmas break she was back to her normal old sweet self again. Seriously, 2 days back from break I noticed a change in her attitude again. She's only in Kindy - it just seems like it's too soon for all of this attitude stuff to be going on. She likes school, but she can take it or leave it. There are some pretty mean kids - especially a little boy that seems to really enjoy being mean to her - and she doesn't want any part of that. I've done lots of praying and thinking and research and have decided that I'm going to start homeschooling her next year. She's excited about it and honestly, I am too.

[Kara]

Laurie, that's been our experience, almost word for word. The attitude/social issues, especially. I really want to homeschool him next year, but DH is not convinced.

[Julie Billingsley]

Our area has a large student/teacher ratio, so for years I've dealt with that. It was normal for there to be 30+ kids in a class. My oldest son was not really challenged until middle school where they can offer higher levels of instruction. Jacob was also in TAG (talented and gifted) but around here it doesn't mean much, so I'd recommend getting a full rundown on their TAG program before you get too excited about it. LOL
Then when Logan came along 11 years later, I didn't want the same experience for him that Jacob went through. So I looked into getting Logan into a charter school. He is in 2nd grade now and there are 25 kids, but there are 2 teachers in each class. I'm thrilled to pieces with Logan's school and have been really happy with charter schools in general. Maybe you could see if there are charter schools where you live by calling the school district office or looking on their website.

[Jennilyn]

My daughter is 5 and started Primary (kindergarten) in September and she has 26 kids in her class. There are 2 grade Primary classes and one grade 1/primary split class. There were about 65 new kids starting this year!

[g6scrapped]

Originally Posted by mariewilcox

Well, you are probably going to laugh out loud when you hear this, but my daughter has 230 students in her whole school - grades K-12. Our town has just under 1000 yearound residents (many more in the summer, but of course they don't go to school here).

To answer your question specifically, there is one 5th grade classroom, and there are 13 kids in it. I have to say that after living all over the country and in big cities, etc. I am so glad to be part of small town America now in more ways than one.

There were maybe 200 kids in my whole school K-12 when I graduate. We had 32 kids in our class and it was/is the largest class the school has ever had. We had one class that was 6 kids. The big kicker is 7 towns go to our school haha..

Tylee (Kindy) 19 kids *one just moved away, it was 20*
Jaxon (preschool) 22 kids

Jaxon is working on writing his name and stuff like that.

Tylee has been counting past 100, counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s to a hundred and more. I'm very pleased with her class. This was a big thing for us. We moved from a much larger town to a farm outside a smaller town this summer just because she was starting school. My husband and I both decided not long after dating that if we had kids we'd move to a small town when they started school. We stuck to it.

[KyRainbow]

the school system my DD attends has a self set limit of 20 per classroom in the elementary grades (K-5) and 25 per room 6th and up. There are NO exceptions, if they have more kids than that, they hire teachers.

[Priscilla]

this really doesn't make me laugh, I'm from a town of just over 2000 so I GREW UP in a class with around 15.

Originally Posted by mariewilcox

Well, you are probably going to laugh out loud when you hear this, but my daughter has 230 students in her whole school - grades K-12. Our town has just under 1000 yearound residents (many more in the summer, but of course they don't go to school here).

To answer your question specifically, there is one 5th grade classroom, and there are 13 kids in it. I have to say that after living all over the country and in big cities, etc. I am so glad to be part of small town America now in more ways than one.

[Priscilla]

This is on my list. I just haven't found anyone else that I KNOW who has a child in our district's program. Ya know, it's sometimes better to talk to a parent doing it then someone at the school.
A mom in a nearby town said it was fantastic nd they put her kid in AP classes in elementary.

When we start the "tests" ... I'll ask. Thanks for mentioning it

Originally Posted by Sharon Kay

I would ask if your child is going to get into the gifted program ... how OFTEN does he get to go ... does he have to make up work when he misses time in the classroom (and all of it or just enough to prove he knows the work?) ... what's in it for him???

.

[schock77]

Well you know Jaxon was the same way in kindergarten, but his teacher knew how to differentiate for the kids and the year was good for him socially. First grade was another story, but second grade is back to keeping him interested. He's in GT but even if he wasn't, I'd expect the teachers to know how to cater to the high and low students in their classes.

The bad news- on the TEA agenda, trying to up the cap as TX has a low number, to save $... I wouldn't homeschool, but I've had a good experience in my district (as a parent and teacher).

[dgreenshield]

Talk to your campus GT specialist they can tell you exactly what services they provide for the students who are placed in the program as well as the days and time allotted. There should be a curriculum that they can show you or at least an outline. Ask if your son's teacher is GT certified, I know I had to take the coursework that was required by my district to keep me GT certified. If she is not, can he be moved to a teacher who is? Or at least go to a pullout with the specialist? My son is in 5th and in the GT program and they only do a once a week pullout for his grade level, it will not be until he is in 6th grade that the more challenging programs are available to him, he will go to a jr. high for GT kids, because of this we do a lot of at home enrichment.


Homeschooling is always an option if you think he would do well with it.

[Milmomma]

Let me start this by saying we only have one elementary school on this base, and no outside choices as we live in Korea right now. Now saying this the school is maxed at 400 kids. The rest must home school. We have 4 Kinder classes, my sons class is #4 and he started with 17 or 18 kids and is now at 21. He speaks 3 languages now, and even goes to classes to help him learn them. Every Kinder class has an extra teacher helper most of the day. Saying though... We lost two Kinder teachers out of the blue over Christmas break. The military is bad about that, I'm glad it wasn't my son's teacher. Though since starting school he has picked up some good and bad habits. She says he does all his work at school but still comes home with lots of homework, on average 1-2 sheets a day of home work that are double sided. He does it all and Taekwondo twice a week. He is smart but he is also very very social kid. Lovesssss to be center of attention and is very likable. I sometimes wonder if this is not good as he choses this over his school work, I think. He has had a gf since week 2 of school and has tons of friends. If nothing else this has helped him learn the social aspects of school and what to expect.
I know personally I would be a horrible Home Schooling mom. I have 0 patient when it comes to this. I feel like I'm doing well most days to get him through his home work. Though he does it mostly himself from doing similar work sheets as school. I wonder if there were kids would he do better sure? But I don't blame his teacher as I think she's doing the best she can.

[Priscilla]

I don't blame the teacher. SHe can only do so much.

[LibbysMommy]

Originally Posted by Milmomma

But I don't blame his teacher as I think she's doing the best she can.

I feel the very same way...the teacher can only do so much with the resources they're give. I know without a doubt that Libby's teacher does do the very best she can and she's a wonderful teacher.

[Jazz2000]

Ugh!!! Don't get me started on public schools!!!

I have the distinct pleasure of sending my 5yo special needs to mainstream public kindergarten. he had a great teacher BUT every time I see her, she is so frustrated by the class. He has 27 in his class with NO aid. She says she will get an aide when the class size hits 28. There are 5 girls and 22 boys in his class, so it is more rambunctious (sp?) than normal.

My 5 yo was going to special ed but they cut some of the funding. So instead of do the special ed prek for 3 yrs, it's now only 2. And the school district cut out the Begindergarten program. So, now they're being pushed into mainstream kindgergarten. I don't want to homeschool him b/c I want him to continue to get the services he needs - speech therapy, occupational therapy, social skills, etc.

One of kindergarten classes is 32!

Now, my older 2 kids go to a Christian school. Big difference. The all-day kindergarten class does have 26, but that is the max. And they do mean max - no more. And the teacher has 2 aides!! And all the teachers give their home numbers for the parents to contact them with any concerns.

The "no-child left behind" means that the teacher will hold the whole class back for the slowest child - so s/he doesn't get left behind.

Sorry this is so long & w/so many typos.

We have given up cable, going to the movies, etc, to help put our kids in private school & it is worth every penny.

I hope you find a good solution for your child.

[Freckles]

My dd started kindergarden at 2 1/2 years old (yes, they start that early in Belgium!) and there were THIRTY children in her class. I wasn't happy with that at all, but it's becoming a common thing, too many children and too few schools!
After 2 years I changed her to another school and there were 19 there. A lot better. Alas, it was only for one year, the next year at her new school they were 30 again...

Now she's in first grade and they're 21. I can live with that. But for kindergarden I really wish they put a limit of 20 here as well. 30 kids was totally irresponsible!

[Ther]

Originally Posted by Freckles

My dd started kindergarden at 2 1/2 years old (yes, they start that early in Belgium!) and there were THIRTY children in her class. I wasn't happy with that at all, but it's becoming a common thing, too many children and too few schools!
After 2 years I changed her to another school and there were 19 there. A lot better. Alas, it was only for one year, the next year at her new school they were 30 again...

Now she's in first grade and they're 21. I can live with that. But for kindergarden I really wish they put a limit of 20 here as well. 30 kids was totally irresponsible!

I am just curious what they teach in Belgium to 2.5 yr olds? It is amazing how much things have changed since we were in school.

[Nevada Jen]

There are 33 in my sons K class. Half don't speak english and the kids here are not eligible for esl until 1st grade. Its so basic its scary. But he seems happy. Next week they will learning the letter M. Not the sound, not words that start with it, just the letter. DS says that on Fridays they go around the classroom and everyone has to say a word that starts with the letter of the week. I try to get back at the teacher by sending in crazy words in my child's head. This week I am planning on planting masocist and massage

[Freckles]

Originally Posted by Ther

I am just curious what they teach in Belgium to 2.5 yr olds? It is amazing how much things have changed since we were in school.

They learn a lot of things while they're playing: the colors, concepts like 'under', 'above', 'next to', there are toys that teach them dimensional insights, they develop their language by listening to stories and tell things themselves in the group,.. They do artwork as well. There are beds in a separate room and a lot of the children still have naps in the afternoon, at school.
It's always been like that in my country, I too started school at 2,5 years. But the entire system is different than in the USA, we have 4 years of kindergarden (actually three, at 2,5 they are in pre-kindergarden) but they only start to learn to read in elementary school, which they start at 6. The reading and calculating process is very intense at 6, but in kindergarden they have learned a lot to prepare them for that...
I hope that makes sense. Lol. It's a bit difficult to explain.

[Chantal Miller]

24 kids in a class would be a dream here. My daughter's grade 5 class was about 33. That seems to be the standard at the moment for her school. Her grade 1 class had 29-30. Grade R (K) was only 16. But Grade R is not a requirement and so there is no state support at all so very few people send there kids.