Class Size and Student Achievement
There has been a lot of discussion about the impact of class size on student achievement. No doubt, there is a greater burden on the classroom teachers as the class size creeps up, which means more parents to deal with, more grading, and more differentiation etc. But does a larger class size actually impact achievement?
A case study in 2011 by the Brookings Institute confirmed that reducing class size to about 17 students from a high of 25 students had an overall academic benefit, the advantage of an estimated three month increase!
Some of the advantages of smaller class size include:
* Better Student engagement and collaboration - groups are more cohesive and stronger trust and relationships are built, resulting in stronger levels of engagement and risk-taking.
*Better Teacher/Student relationships - Both students and teachers report closer feedback, greater support, and overall more positive feelings.
* Personalized Instruction - Teachers are better able to identify and respond to students' issues and learning styles. Teachers have more resources to address these issues which result in better learning.
* Teacher Continuity - an important benefit is that teachers that teach smaller classes tend to remain in their setting, creating more competent, confident teachers who are aligned with the culture of the school. Less teacher attrition means a more experienced teacher in the classroom.
*Greater Depth of Learning - Smaller class sizes lend themselves to an environment in which topics and themes can be studied in greater depth and from a wider array of approaches. Students who are exposed to this approach learn these topics at an advantage to their counterparts in larger sized classes.
While economics and other practical matters often make reduced class sizes a challenge to meet, educators involved in the decision making process can be cognizant of these benefits to make the case for smaller class sizes.
