Small Class Sizes are Beneficial for All Students

 Class size has become one of the most significant issues within our modern classrooms. When we talk about class size, we are referring to the number of students in a class. Currently, the average number of students in a classroom in Tennessee is 20.7, and the maximum amount of students that are allowed in each classroom is 25. This will continue to increase with the teacher shortage that America is facing right now. A classroom size that is smaller than 20 students allows for so many benefits for student growth, development, and learning.

Teacher working with students in a small group

My mentor teacher teaches 3rd grade, and the number of students she has in her classroom is 16. I have had the opportunity to see how this smaller class size has allowed her to work with her students in smaller groups and really dig deeper into their learning. I have seen this beneficial for her students by catering instruction to their specific needs. While students are working on different activities and worksheets, she can call students back into a small group and work with them in a smaller setting rather than having to try and do it all as one big group. If her class size was bigger, she would not be able to pull those small groups and work with them on their specific needs because there would be too many students for her to get through in a short amount of time. Another way that I have seen small class size benefit her students is by encouraging them to participate in class more. It can be scary to raise your hand and answer questions in front of a big group of students. I have witnessed so much participation from this group of students. They also encourage each other to answer questions, and when they get it right they cheer them on with a little chant. This small class size has allowed them to feel comfortable participating and asking questions while also getting to know their peers better to push them and encourage them as well. Small class sizes are very beneficial for the students as well as the teachers. 

Data Driven Decision Making in the Classroom

Our students are constantly developing and growing, and it is important for us as teachers to keep our instruction relevant and engaging for them. One of the best ways to adapt our instruction to their needs is through data-driven decision-making. Data-driven decision-making is the way that teachers collect and use data in their classrooms to change and adapt their planning and instructional methods to the academic level and interests of their students. Data-driven decision-making is important to use in the classroom because as teachers we want to help our students grow. We need to understand them and where they are in order to help them reach their full potential. It also helps to promote a community of learners. There are so many ways for teachers to collect data. One of the biggest ways and most widely used data collection tools are formative assessments. Formative assessments include exams, tests, and quizzes. Some other ways to collect data include thumbs up/thumbs down and self-reflection surveys. After collecting this data through various forms, it is important to implement your findings into your instruction in order to cater to your student's specific needs. 

A teacher giving students a formative assessment in order to collect data

I have observed teachers and analyzed they have collected data in their own classrooms. One of my favorite ways that I have observed a teacher use data and technology in her classroom was through the app Nearpod. Nearpod allowed her to create interactive lesson plans for her students to follow along with her on their own Chrome Books. In Nearpod, there would be different questions for her students to answer throughout, and when the students submitted their answers, she could. automatically see them. She could see how many students got the answer correct or wrong, and then she could cater their discussion to what they needed the most help with. She used this a lot with spelling words. She would write the variety of answers that they had, and then they would go through each one and discuss why or why not the answer was incorrect. This is a great and observable way to collect and use data to influence instruction. Data is easily accessible with all of the technology and resources that we have available. We should not take this for granted. As teachers, we have the opportunity to improve our instruction and meet kids where they are in their academic journey. Our students every year will have different strengths, weaknesses, and motivators. Instruction should not stay the same from year to year. Data collection and usage is the most important tool to help your students exceed learning expectations.