SUBSCRIBE FOR ONLY $16.99!

Effective Strategies for Managing Split Grade Classes

Advertisement

Originally published in TEACH Magazine, July/August 2016 Issue

By Meagan Gillmore

The 2016-2017 school year could get off to a rocky start in Newfoundland and Labrador, before it even begins. In April, the government announced split-grade classes would be introduced in some schools for the first time. This is new for parents—many were never in a split-grade class as students, and their children have never been in them either. They’re concerned their children will suffer academically and socially.

“It’s those kids that are kind of left in the middle that might be struggling, but it might be a silent struggle (that we’re worried about),” says Krista Trask, a member of the school council at Beachy Cove Elementary in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, NL, one of the schools scheduled to introduce split-grade classes. “We’re just hoping as parents that teachers will still have the time and still have the focus to make sure that those kids don’t get lost in the cracks.”

They’re also concerned about social and emotional needs. “To us, it’s more about having healthy children,” says Trask, noting anxiety is increasing among students. Some students are worried about not being with their friends, or being teased for being in a split-grade class. Students won’t know which children in the affected grades will be in a split-grade class until school starts. Children have questions, but parents don’t have answers.

Subscribe to Keep Reading

🔑 You’re one step away from unlocking premium content.
Subscribe now for just $16.99/year and get full access!
If you’re already subscribed, please .

Meagan Gillmore is a freelance writer in Toronto, ON.

Education News

New Immersive Platform Offers Glimpses Into the Daily Lives of Kids With ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia

The free digital tool by Understood.org uses simulations, videos, and expert resources to start conversations and challenge assumptions about learning and thinking differences.

School Safety Plans: 4 Ways Districts Can Prepare for Everyday Medical Emergencies

While most people think of lockdowns when they hear “school safety,” it’s also critical to plan for situations like seizures or cardiac arrest.

Building a Listening Culture: A Conversation with Christine Miles

In our discussion with educator, author, and keynote speaker Christine Miles, we explore the often-invisible crisis of listening in education.

Four Education Innovators Honored with 2025 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

This year’s class of McGraw Prize winners combines highly innovative approaches to learning with results that transform lives.

Join Our Newsletter

Join now for a chance to win 1 of 2 $25 Indigo e-gift cards this month!

Meagan Gillmore
Meagan Gillmore
Meagan Gillmore is a freelance writer in Toronto, ON.

Advertisement

Read More

4 Simple Strategies to Make Wellness Culture Part of Your School

For students to thrive and schools to achieve their desired outcomes, educator wellness is crucial to the overall health of school communities. Here are some fast, simple, and practical ways that schools can help teachers reduce stress and burnout.

New Immersive Platform Offers Glimpses Into the Daily Lives of Kids With ADHD, Dyslexia, and Dyscalculia

The free digital tool by Understood.org uses simulations, videos, and expert resources to start conversations and challenge assumptions about learning and thinking differences.

School Safety Plans: 4 Ways Districts Can Prepare for Everyday Medical Emergencies

While most people think of lockdowns when they hear “school safety,” it’s also critical to plan for situations like seizures or cardiac arrest.

Beyond Fame, Fortune, and Followers: Inspiring Students to Redefine Success

I’ve started to notice a troubling trend among my students: many of them equate success with fame, followers, or a fat bank account.

Building a Listening Culture: A Conversation with Christine Miles

In our discussion with educator, author, and keynote speaker Christine Miles, we explore the often-invisible crisis of listening in education.

Four Education Innovators Honored with 2025 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education

This year’s class of McGraw Prize winners combines highly innovative approaches to learning with results that transform lives.