Teaching a Split Grade: 10 Helpful Tips

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Show Notes:

After over 300 episodes, I’m still finding topics that I’ve never addressed but my listeners want help and guidance with. Today is one of those topics. A trend that’s happening in education right now is the idea of teaching split grades. Whether this is the effect of Covid-related academic struggles or the new wave of teaching, more and more schools are moving toward this teaching style, and teachers need to be informed. 

Although it goes without being said, when teaching split grades, there are unique dynamics to this style that require different approaches to planning, instruction, and classroom management. However, it doesn’t mean you have to throw everything you know out the window. Instead, I’m going to show you how to make small changes to your instruction and classroom to fit the needs of each grade’s academic skills.

To help you thrive and enjoy teaching split grades, I’m sharing 10 helpful tips for you to plan and implement in your classroom. Each of my tips asks you to find opportunities to combine skills each grade can practice, streamline your assessments, plan for differentiated instruction, and find ways to build classroom culture and independent learners. These practical tips will inspire you and help show you the many benefits of combining grades, especially as it pertains to helping students who are lagging in academic skills.

Inside this week's show, you'll learn:

• The benefits of teaching split grades and how it has helped struggling learners in a post-Covid academic setting
• 10 helpful tips you can implement in your classroom that will help you thrive when teaching split grades
• How to tackle the unique dynamics of split grades and the small changes you need to thrive with this teaching style
• Why you don’t need to overhaul everything you know and learned but instead adapt and tweak your assessments and instruction to fit the needs of each student

Links & resources mentioned inside this episode: 

• Free Masterclass - Your 5-Step Classroom Management Reset
• Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card by leaving a review for Beginning Teacher Talk on Apple Podcasts!
• 12 Ways to Keep the Rest of the Class on Task When You’re Working with Small Groups
• Follow Dr. Lori on Instagram
• Follow Dr. Lori on Facebook
• Follow Beginning Teacher Talk on TikTok

I hope this information is helpful as you prepare for your first, second, or third year of teaching. Until next time, remember, just because you're a beginning elementary teacher, there's no need for you to struggle like one.

💛 Lori

Dr. Lori Friesen | Beginning Teacher Mentor

Creator of the R.E.A.D.Y. for School Academy and The Classroom Management Club, Dr. Lori Friesen has mentored thousands of beginning teachers across the country through her workshops and courses. Host of the popular podcast Beginning Teacher Talk and author of Dear New Teacher, Here's Exactly What to Do, Dr. Lori is dedicated to serving educators and inspiring learners. Learn more at drlorifriesen.com.

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Related episodes you might enjoy:

• How to Differentiate Any Lesson
• How to Create Simple, Effective Learning Centers for Any Subject
• How to Create a Classroom Community in the First Weeks of School
• 12 Ways to Keep the Rest of the Class on Task When You’re Working with Small Groups 

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