K/1 Split? Will It Work?

Three days before school started, my room was ready, had my class roll, and was headed for the beach for a last hurrah before the start of school.  That's when I got the CALL from my principal asking if I would be willing to teach a K/1 split class and I started on this grand adventure. The Kindergarten parents were thrilled that their children would have older role models but the first grade parents were not convinced that their children would receive the attention they needed. Armed with my research and the experience I've had in a multi-age program earlier in my career, I faced the parents on Parent Night.  They were great and after I answered their questions, seemed secure in knowing that their children were going to be well taken care of.  Scheduling has been a nightmare though!  I'm still not sure we have the best schedule to meet our needs so it is a work in progress.

Below is an article about my class that appeared on our school system's curriculum blog:

Ms. L. Joseph, principal at GES, is pleased to announce the creation of a combined class for kindergartners and first graders. Research shows that multi-age education provides for true differentiation, including rich intellectual and social benefits. Mix-aged groups encourage self-respect, autonomy, and respect for others. Children are viewed as individuals with performance expectations adjusted as needed for each student.

Ellen Stubblefield, teacher of this multi-age class, states, “Teaching a multiage class is exhausting but so rewarding! It has been a joy watching the kindergartners and the first graders interact with each other. The first graders have been great models for the kindergartners, and it is amazing how fast they have learned routines and procedures. We are creating a caring environment. The kindergartners are just as concerned about their first grade friends’ feelings as they are their own. Children get to experience a different role than they have in their families. For example, one of my kindergartners is the oldest child in her family. Now she gets to experience what it is like being the youngest in our classroom. This experience is teaching me to look at each student as individuals with a multiplicity of qualities and capabilities instead of a member of a grade. Our system's professional development in differentiated instruction has prepared me well for this amazing opportunity.”