As a parent, you have probably heard the uproar that occurs when school boards announce the words “budget cuts.” Teachers feel that uproar too because what “budget cuts” often translates to is increased class sizes and cuts to important social subjects like gym, music and drama.
We all know that schools with smaller class sizes are more desirable, but what exactly is it about small classes that make it better than large ones? What does it mean for your child? How can class size affect students academically and socially?
There are numerous advantages to smaller class sizes that you should consider carefully when enrolling your child into a nursery school or daycare in Pickering. Smaller class sizes mean:
BRIDGING THE GAP
Lower student-to-teacher ratios help close the gap between minority and nonminority students. The advantages of lower student-to-teacher ratios are even greater for less-advantaged students; who have the highest achievement gains with smaller classes by the end of the school year.
INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION
With smaller class sizes, teachers get to know each student as an individual. They have more manageable workloads and more time to work one-on-one with students to encourage their strengths and improve their weaknesses.
MORE FOCUSED CLASSROOMS
With fewer students to monitor, teachers tend to spend less time on classroom management issues, such as discipline. Classes are quieter, and there are fewer distractions for students.
STRONGER PEER-TO-PEER RELATIONSHIPS
Instead of being just another face in the crowd, students tend to develop deeper relationships with each other when class sizes are small. They have more time to get to know each other and work together. Active peer-to-peer support leads to higher academic achievements for the whole class.
MORE CONFIDENT STUDENTS
Smaller class sizes encourage greater participation. In a class of 30-plus students, it is easier for a shy or unprepared student to slip under the teacher’s radar. In a class of 15, however, those same students may feel more comfortable about taking chances and participating in class discussions.
LASTING EFFECTS
The benefits that students experience will follow them every step of the way as they inch toward graduation. Studies have shown that students who attended smaller classes during their first few years of school were more likely to enter college than students who were enrolled with a larger student-to-teacher ratio.
FINDING A MONTESSORI SCHOOL IN PICKERING
Colwell Nursery School & Kindergarten uses Montessori teaching methods, and we believe strongly that smaller class sizes have the greatest long-term benefits for children. Our childcare and daycare centre serves Pickering residents as well as the Ajax area. To learn more about how our early childhood education programs can set your child on a path to academic success, contact us today.