Class Size

Class Size

Teresa Motes

Shorter University

Class Size One of the most important factors in an education is classroom size. Classroom size does not stand for the size of the room. It refers to the number of students in the room. The lower the number of students per classroom the better the results. According to studies smaller class size is associated with increased student academic performance in the lower grades. Students in a class of 15 outperform classes of 25, even with a paraprofessional assisting the teacher (Sadker, Sadker, & Zittleman, 2008). Smaller class size helps diminish discipline problems in the classroom. A crowded classroom can lead to problems if the classroom is not managed effectively and can result in discipline problems (Santrock, 2009). Researchers found in both reading and mathematics that students in small classes performed significantly better than students in regular classes. It was also found that minority ethnic groups benefited most from small classes (Finn & Achilles, 1999) With small class sizes a teacher can have one-on-one time to get to know the students better, learn what the child can do academically, assess how a student interacts socially with other students, and determine how the students learn best. When a teacher is able to spend more time with a student they can identify the student’s strengths as well as their weaknesses. This type of learning environment is only possible with a small classroom size. Teachers with smaller class sizes are capable of giving students more individual attention that helps these students to better succeed in school. When a teacher can establish this type relationship with a student they can design an educational plan that is beneficial to all students. This is not possible in a large, crowded classroom because the larger classroom is often affected by discipline problems that consume much of the teacher’s time. Smaller classrooms are also better because of issues of safety and discipline. It is much easier for a teacher to keep children safe in a small class because they are easier to control. Discipline problems can be kept to a minimal in a small classroom where the teacher is in a position to monitor all of the students very closely. The closer a teacher is to the students during the instructional time, the better the student behavior and student achievement will be. Some of the benefits that are associated with small classroom size according to http://www.greatschools.org are as follows. Gains associated with small classes appear when classes are smaller than twenty students. Gains associated with small classes are stronger for students in lower grades. Gains are stronger for students from groups that are economically disadvantaged. Gains from class size reduction in the lower grades continue to help students in the upper grades. These students are more likely to earn better grades and stay in school. Today there are many students that are in the general education classroom that are served by the general education teacher and by the special education teacher. The disabilities of these students can range from learning disabilities to attention deficit disorder. These students are required by law to be served with the regular education students (Hallahan &
Kauffman, 2006). The class size is a very important factor for both the students and the teachers. Many of these students require one-on-one instruction. The ideal setting for these students is in a small size classroom. Evidence has proven that small class size improves student achievement and teacher success. Our schools are faced with budget cuts today that have caused classroom size to increase. Class sizes were increased when states approved class size amount. Many school tutorial programs have been cut due to budget cuts and the students are continuing to struggle in reading and math (Raudonis, 2011). Class size does make a difference in teaching students. The budgets of all schools are suffering today because of the economic conditions that our country is experiencing. Both federal and state funds have been drastically cut for education programs. Local boards of education have been faced with some devastating decisions to make about how our students are being educated. Many school systems have furloughed teachers, cut the programs, cut paraprofessionals, and even shortened the school year to compensate for the drastic financial cuts that have been experienced in every school system. These cuts are increasing the size of our classrooms. In many cases teachers are having as many as thirty students in their rooms in elementary schools with no one to help them. Even though there are federal guidelines for class size, local school boards can pass resolutions that allow school systems to increase the size of the classrooms. In conclusion, the students are the ones that are suffering from the cut backs in the educational field. Class sizes are increasing tremendously at our students’ expense. A teacher can only do so much to help the students succeed in the crowded classroom conditions. A teacher must teach the standards that are required and access the progress but with an overload of students the teachers’ time is limited. Students that are slower academically are suffering because one-on-one time with the teacher is being consumed by the gradual increase in class size. When it comes to class size bigger is definitely not better.

References
Finn,J.D., Pannozzo,G.M., & Achiles, C.M. (2003). The 'why 's ' of class size: Student behavior in small classes. Review of Educational Research, 73(3), 321-368.
Hallahan, D.P. & Kauffman, J.M. (2006). Exceptional Learners. Boston, Ma: Pearson.
Raudonis L. (January/February 2011). How Budget "Adjustments" Are Affecting Georgia 's Schools. PAGEONE, Vol. 33 No. 1, 4.
Sadker, D.M., Sadker, M.P., & Zittleman, K.R. (2008). Teachers, Schools, And Society 8th ed. New York, Ny: McGraw-Hill.
Santrock, J.W. (2009). Educational Psychology 4th ed. New York, Ny: Mcgraw-hill.
GreatSchool Staff (2008). How Important Is Class Size?. Retrieved 12/08/2011, from http://wwwgreatschools.org

References: Finn,J.D., Pannozzo,G.M., & Achiles, C.M. (2003). The 'why 's ' of class size: Student behavior in small classes. Review of Educational Research, 73(3), 321-368. Hallahan, D.P. & Kauffman, J.M. (2006). Exceptional Learners. Boston, Ma: Pearson. Raudonis L. (January/February 2011). How Budget "Adjustments" Are Affecting Georgia 's Schools. PAGEONE, Vol. 33 No. 1, 4. Sadker, D.M., Sadker, M.P., & Zittleman, K.R. (2008). Teachers, Schools, And Society 8th ed. New York, Ny: McGraw-Hill. Santrock, J.W. (2009). Educational Psychology 4th ed. New York, Ny: Mcgraw-hill. GreatSchool Staff (2008). How Important Is Class Size?. Retrieved 12/08/2011, from http://wwwgreatschools.org