joyce on thu 14 aug 08
Kim H. said:
but do the math. If I have 32 7th graders in a 40 minute class, then
I have just over a minute to devote to each child for individual help
and that is only if I don't present some sort of lesson that day.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've often heard this statement used for lowering class size. I may
well have used it myself
as a negotiating teacher. However, Kim, think about it.
Do the math. If you then cut your class size in half so that you
have 16 seventh graders, does
that then mean you have just over two minutes "to devote to each
child for individual help"? This
negotiating point sounds valid, but truly...... what does it
mean? Is two minutes really that
much more helpful ? If you then cut class size from 32 to only
8....... then you have five
minutes for each student? Hmmmm, somewhat better, but not much.
I think the answer is not class size (if you already have it down to
32) but ......... that the teachers
be trained to think out
of the box...... to use their good minds and education to become
more organized and develop
a CAN DO attitude. Every continuing study of which I'm aware
indicates that the teacher is the
key to her students' education.
With that in mind, higher salaries and better benefits might actually
make a difference.
But, in my Finest World, "out of the box" means just that; however,
the changes may best be
baby steps
in the beginning..... starting with the individual teacher and what
he/she does once the
door closes .............
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A.
jonathan byler on thu 14 aug 08
32 students to a teacher in any class is pretty outrageous. it's not
so much about the time spent, rather that it is very hard to get to
know and understand the needs of that many people, especially in that
short of a time span.
jon byler
3-D Building Coordinator
Art Department
Auburn University, AL 36849
On Aug 14, 2008, at 2:07 PM, joyce wrote:
> Kim H. said:
> but do the math. If I have 32 7th graders in a 40 minute class, then
> I have just over a minute to devote to each child for individual help
> and that is only if I don't present some sort of lesson that day.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------
>
>
> I've often heard this statement used for lowering class size. I may
> well have used it myself
> as a negotiating teacher. However, Kim, think about it.
>
> Do the math. If you then cut your class size in half so that you
> have 16 seventh graders, does
> that then mean you have just over two minutes "to devote to each
> child for individual help"? This
> negotiating point sounds valid, but truly...... what does it
> mean? Is two minutes really that
> much more helpful ? If you then cut class size from 32 to only
> 8....... then you have five
> minutes for each student? Hmmmm, somewhat better, but not much.
>
> I think the answer is not class size (if you already have it down to
> 32) but ......... that the teachers
> be trained to think out
> of the box...... to use their good minds and education to become
> more organized and develop
> a CAN DO attitude. Every continuing study of which I'm aware
> indicates that the teacher is the
> key to her students' education.
>
> With that in mind, higher salaries and better benefits might actually
> make a difference.
> But, in my Finest World, "out of the box" means just that; however,
> the changes may best be
> baby steps
> in the beginning..... starting with the individual teacher and what
> he/she does once the
> door closes .............
>
> Joyce
> In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A.
Kim Hohlmayer on fri 15 aug 08
Dear Jon,
That is so true. And this school was in the least prosperous part of town so most though not all came with some serious issues. It is hard for a kid to learn when it is January and there is no heat in the house! Then there were kids whom neither parent wanted, kids with parents who sexually assaulted them regularly, and I better stop. The list was endless. Thank God (substitute deity of choice here or fate if you prefer) there were much better teachers than I who managed to teach and accomplish something in spite of what went on. --Kim H.
--- On Thu, 8/14/08, jonathan byler wrote:
> From: jonathan byler
> Subject: Re: Class Size...... Kim
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 4:59 PM
> 32 students to a teacher in any class is pretty outrageous.
> it's not
> so much about the time spent, rather that it is very hard
> to get to
> know and understand the needs of that many people,
> especially in that
> short of a time span.
>
>
> jon byler
> 3-D Building Coordinator
> Art Department
> Auburn University, AL 36849
>
> On Aug 14, 2008, at 2:07 PM, joyce wrote:
>
> > Kim H. said:
> > but do the math. If I have 32 7th graders in a 40
> minute class, then
> > I have just over a minute to devote to each child for
> individual help
> > and that is only if I don't present some sort of
> lesson that day.
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > -----------------------------------
> >
> >
> > I've often heard this statement used for lowering
> class size. I may
> > well have used it myself
> > as a negotiating teacher. However, Kim, think about
> it.
> >
> > Do the math. If you then cut your class size in half
> so that you
> > have 16 seventh graders, does
> > that then mean you have just over two minutes "to
> devote to each
> > child for individual help"? This
> > negotiating point sounds valid, but truly...... what
> does it
> > mean? Is two minutes really that
> > much more helpful ? If you then cut class size from
> 32 to only
> > 8....... then you have five
> > minutes for each student? Hmmmm, somewhat better, but
> not much.
> >
> > I think the answer is not class size (if you already
> have it down to
> > 32) but ......... that the teachers
> > be trained to think out
> > of the box...... to use their good minds and education
> to become
> > more organized and develop
> > a CAN DO attitude. Every continuing study of which
> I'm aware
> > indicates that the teacher is the
> > key to her students' education.
> >
> > With that in mind, higher salaries and better benefits
> might actually
> > make a difference.
> > But, in my Finest World, "out of the box"
> means just that; however,
> > the changes may best be
> > baby steps
> > in the beginning..... starting with the individual
> teacher and what
> > he/she does once the
> > door closes .............
> >
> > Joyce
> > In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A.
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