Split class / multigrade

Mzo1978

Hi guys

Has anyone any experience with this please. My son has just started 5th class. Over the summer we were told students born before November would be put in a split 5th / 6th class my son being born in the January was placed in a split 4th/5th. I'd bought all his books and yesterday he arrived and said he had the wrong irish book he needed rang 4 as opposed to rang 5 on looking I've discovered he will be taught from an irish 4th class book again he's in 5th. His peers in the 5/6th split will be taught from the book is initially bought rang 5 5th class irish.

I've rang the school and the secretary explained the teacher will teach from 4th class irish for the year and next year 5th class irish then he's finished so when exactly will he be taught 6th class irish. Teacher is to ring me to explain but I've never come across this. On paper it looks like he will lose a whole years teaching as opposed to his older peers who got split 5th and 6th

AndrewJRenko

Set up a meeting with the teacher to discuss. Every classroom has children with a wide range of abilities, so all teachers are well used to teaching across this range. The point about the Irish books seems a bit strange.

You should also think and talk to teacher about what happens on non-curriculum stuff - school trips, sports teams, plays/concerts - it would be good to keep a network going with other 5th class students for some or all of these activities.

byhookorbycrook

The primary curriculum is in two year cycles, so I wouldn't panic. Teaching is more than "what's in the book" - I wouldn't be too worried tbh. If you still have concerns in a few weeks time, make an appointment to talk with the teacher

Big Bag of Chips

When I was in school, 30 years ago we were in a multiclass room. Always. So depending on the cycle you might have been 5th class doing a 6th class book, or you might have been 6th class doing a 5th class book.

I still managed to get through secondary school and get an above average leaving cert.

It's not that unusual in most parts of the country.

byhookorbycrook

I taught in a 2 teacher and it was absolutely fantastic for the children, as already mentioned the days of everyone being in the same place , at the same time, in the same book are long gone.

heldel00

Multigrade is brilliant for the children, not so much for the teacher but that's another discussion.
Have to say i would query the 4th class book being used. I have 24 1st class in with 6 boys in a split 2nd class and any shared subjects are always aimed at the older group amd differentiated for the younger class.
ie: my first class children are doing second class Irish and SESE (hist geog science) and its up to me then to teach it at a level suitable for both.
FYI they each do their own class level in English and Maths.

Mzo1978

I spoke to a few friends who are teachers today I've no issue with the multigrade classroom my son might benefit more from that setting but we are agreed him doing 4th class irish which he already did last year was worrying. His teacher hasn't called me back as yet. My concern is next year if we move which may be on the cards he will go into 6th class but he wont have done the 5th class circumlum he's always managed well with all subjects I checked his maths and he has the 5th class math book just seems to be the irish book that's last years he said of his homework today I don't have to do it I did it last year which he did I'll be always been quite good at irish I can hold a conversation easily and I recognise he has done most of the work in the book. Il wait until his teachers replies and she what the explanation might be.

AndrewJRenko

Probably best to make an appointment for a face-to-face discussion. It would be difficult to discuss this by phone, especially if you don't really know the teacher well.