School & Administrator Support

Whether you are a veteran teacher or fresh out of the credential program, teaching a combination class requires support. Seeking help from your school administration is one area where you may be able to find some much needed assistance.

Your school principal or superintendent can help with a few different key areas:

• Classroom aide

Teaching a combination class is more time consuming than a single-grade class. If your school district is combining grades as a cost-saving measure (which many districts do), and you do not have a classroom aide, consider requesting one. A classroom aide costs a school district less than hiring another teacher, and can help with small group instruction, grading papers, and other tasks.

• Student selection

Students in a combination class are often selected based on their ability to be independent workers or their academic level. Many teachers prefer students be placed in a combination class based on their ability to work independently. If this is your priority, make sure your principal knows this. That way, if he or she needs to make changes or adjustments to the class roster, hopefully they will take this into consideration.

• Scheduling

If you are tasked with teaching two (or more) grade levels that have different schedules, there may be some flexibility. For example, a 2-3 combination class that has two different recess schedules, one at 9:30 and the other at 9:45, may be able to all go at the 9:30 recess time. Some teachers take the opportunity to work with one grade level while the other one is out of the room, but this can be exhausting as it can mean no breaks for the teacher. Consider the options, talk to your administrator, and see what is right for you and your class.