Teaching a Combined Grade

When I found out that my next teaching block was in a 5/6 split, my immediate thought was, How am I going to do it? I had feelings of panic initially for as a beginning teacher it is difficult enough familiarizing yourself with the curriculum and planning around it. Now I would have to plan for 2 grades.

Since then, however, I have spoken to many teachers who have provided me some really good advice. What has really eased my mind about teaching a split grade class is the fact that there is the opportunity to integrate the curriculum from both grades when looking at the BIG IDEAS. There is also the opporunity for teachers to work as a team, coordinating their timetables to allow students in combined classes grades to join together for sujects like social studies and/or science.

Furthermore, no matter what class you are teaching, there will be a wide range in abilities, perhaps spreading across various grades. As teachers we have to plan for individual needs. When I think of it this way, combined grades aren't so scary.

A good resource to read up on if you are teaching a combined grade is Combined Grades: Strategies to Reach a Range of Learners in Kindergarten to Grade 6, which we received in September. There are many excellent strategies and ideas!