How crowded is How crowded is your class?your class?

By: Linzi SimsBy: Linzi Sims

Do you feel like you have to yell to have Do you feel like you have to yell to have your voice heard?your voice heard?

Do you have to compete for your teacher’s Do you have to compete for your teacher’s attention?attention?

Do you leave class without the teacher Do you leave class without the teacher getting to your questions?getting to your questions?

With recent budget cuts, school are With recent budget cuts, school are increasing the number of students in each increasing the number of students in each class. class.

Image from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1004520/Parents-fed-crowded-classes-spend-20-000-primary-school.htmlImage from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1004520/Parents-fed-crowded-classes-spend-20-000-primary-school.html

Larger class sizes can cause a Larger class sizes can cause a decrease in student decrease in student

achievement.achievement.

Style (2011)Style (2011)

““For first through seventh grades…district student For first through seventh grades…district student achievement fell as the student/teacher ratio achievement fell as the student/teacher ratio increased for every student above an 18 to 1 ratio.”increased for every student above an 18 to 1 ratio.”

““Smaller class students substantially outperformed Smaller class students substantially outperformed larger class students on both standardized (Stanford larger class students on both standardized (Stanford Achievement Tests) and curriculum-based tests (Basic Achievement Tests) and curriculum-based tests (Basic Skills First). “Skills First). “

U.S. Department of EducationU.S. Department of Education

Research PurposeResearch Purpose

The purpose of this research is to The purpose of this research is to address the impact that class size has address the impact that class size has on student achievement.on student achievement.

Significance of the studySignificance of the study

Many school districts are increasing class Many school districts are increasing class size due to budget cuts. size due to budget cuts.

Both students and teachers will suffer Both students and teachers will suffer from larger class sizes. from larger class sizes.

Reducing class sizes will have many Reducing class sizes will have many benefits, but most importantly, an benefits, but most importantly, an increase in student achievement. increase in student achievement.

U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education believes in reducing class sizebelieves in reducing class size

Small classes were associated with higher Small classes were associated with higher achievement at all grade levelsachievement at all grade levels

Major benefits of reducing class size Major benefits of reducing class size occurred where the number of students in occurred where the number of students in the class was fewer than 20.the class was fewer than 20.

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Education believes in reducing class sizebelieves in reducing class size

At the fourth-grade level, lower At the fourth-grade level, lower student/teacher ratios are positively related to student/teacher ratios are positively related to higher mathematics achievement. higher mathematics achievement.

At the eighth-grade level, lower At the eighth-grade level, lower student/teacher ratios improve the school student/teacher ratios improve the school social environment, which in turn leads to social environment, which in turn leads to higher achievement. higher achievement.

U.S. Department of Education

Class size averages among other countriesClass size averages among other countrieshttp://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-03-24-small-classes_N.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-03-24-small-classes_N.htm

Class size is on the riseClass size is on the rise

http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/NY-AZ016_NYCLAS_NS_20110526184510.jpg

Martinez (2011)

Why smaller classroom size is Why smaller classroom size is importantimportant

There are fewer students to distract each other. There are fewer students to distract each other.

Reduced class size also reduces the level of noise in a Reduced class size also reduces the level of noise in a class. class.

Each student in a reduced size class gets more Each student in a reduced size class gets more attention on average from the teacher, and more time attention on average from the teacher, and more time to speak while the others listen. to speak while the others listen.

U.S. Department of Education

ConclusionConclusion

Smaller class sizes can Smaller class sizes can reduce noise and behavior problemsreduce noise and behavior problems Increase student achievementIncrease student achievement have a positive impact on how students have a positive impact on how students

feel about schoolfeel about school Increase attendance ratesIncrease attendance rates

ConclusionConclusion

Even with decreasing budgets, there are ways to for Even with decreasing budgets, there are ways to for students to have the benefit of smaller class sizes. students to have the benefit of smaller class sizes.

““ineffective educational interventions can minimize ineffective educational interventions can minimize the cost of smaller classes. Extra teachers in a school the cost of smaller classes. Extra teachers in a school who do not have regular class assignments are costly who do not have regular class assignments are costly and may not have the same positive impact on and may not have the same positive impact on achievement as shrinking class size”achievement as shrinking class size”

Class size: counting students can count (2003)Class size: counting students can count (2003)

CC

Image from www.classsizematters.orgImage from www.classsizematters.org

BibliographyBibliography

Class size: counting students can count. (2003). American Class size: counting students can count. (2003). American Educational Research Association (Issue 2, Educational Research Association (Issue 2, 11). Retrieved from ). Retrieved from http://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Journals_and_Publications/Research_Points/RP_Fall03.pdfhttp://www.aera.net/uploadedFiles/Journals_and_Publications/Research_Points/RP_Fall03.pdf

Class size matters. (n.d.). Class size matters.org. Class size matters. (n.d.). Class size matters.org. Retrieved from Retrieved from www.classsizematters.orgwww.classsizematters.org

Martinez, B. (2011, May 27). City classroom size on the Martinez, B. (2011, May 27). City classroom size on the rise.rise. The Wall Street Journal.  The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/home-pagehttp://online.wsj.com/home-page

BibliographyBibliography

Parents fed up with crowded classes spend £20,000 on their own Parents fed up with crowded classes spend £20,000 on their own primary school. (2008, April 01). Mail Online. Retrieved from primary school. (2008, April 01). Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/ushome/index.html

Style, T. (2011). Why class size really does matter. Pomerado News. Style, T. (2011). Why class size really does matter. Pomerado News. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=11770http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=11770

Toppo, G. (2008, March 24). Size alone makes small classes better for Toppo, G. (2008, March 24). Size alone makes small classes better for kids. kids. USA TodayUSA Today. Retrieved from . Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/http://www.usatoday.com/

U. S. Department of Education, National Institute on Student U. S. Department of Education, National Institute on Student Achievement, Curriculum and Assessment. (1999). Reducing class size Achievement, Curriculum and Assessment. (1999). Reducing class size what do we know?. Retrieved from what do we know?. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/ReducingClass/Class_size.htmlhttp://www2.ed.gov/pubs/ReducingClass/Class_size.html