According to the Education Act, there cannot be more than 29 students in a Kindergarten classroom, 23 in Grades 1-3 and 24.5 for Grades 4-8.
Yet, anecdotal reports from parents and teachers claim that many classrooms have more than the maximum number of students allowed.
Research shows strong evidence that the greater the classroom size the less students are engaged and succeed academically.
This means that children struggle to create meaningful relationships with peers, their love for learning diminishes, learning gaps widen, and more!
One of the reasons parents are choosing alternative education is so that their child can benefit from smaller class sizes.
Small class size benefits include . . .
- Established relationship between teacher and student where respect and trust can be established. The more a teacher knows about a student the greater their ability to meet the students’ needs.
- Greater capacity to develop a caring classroom community where students feel a sense of belonging. When a child feels welcome and safe there is a desire to go to school and learn!
- Individualized attention for each student so they can be supported intellectually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. This approach develops the whole child for life long success.
- Growing a LOVE for learning rather than decreasing it. When teachers know their students intimately and allow them to follow their interests at a pace that is developmentally appropriate . . . They. Will. THRIVE!
Walnut Forest Academy has two teachers per classroom with no more than sixteen students in total.
Not only is this 1:8 ratio of teachers-to-students important for all of the reasons indicated above, but it is also necessary for safety.
As a nature-based microschool, we spend two-thirds of the day outside. Risky play is a huge component of our program; making extra teachers essential.
According to the Education Act, there cannot be more than 29 students in a Kindergarten classroom, 23 in Grades 1-3 and 24.5 for Grades 4-8.
Yet, anecdotal reports from parents and teachers claim that many classrooms have more than the maximum number of students allowed.
Research shows strong evidence that the greater the classroom size the less students are engaged and succeed academically.
This means that children struggle to create meaningful relationships with peers, their love for learning diminishes, learning gaps widen, and more!
One of the reasons parents are choosing alternative education is so that their child can benefit from smaller class sizes.
Small class size benefits include . . .
- Established relationship between teacher and student where respect and trust can be established. The more a teacher knows about a student the greater their ability to meet the students’ needs.
- Greater capacity to develop a caring classroom community where students feel a sense of belonging. When a child feels welcome and safe there is a desire to go to school and learn!
- Individualized attention for each student so they can be supported intellectually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. This approach develops the whole child for life long success.
- Growing a LOVE for learning rather than decreasing it. When teachers know their students intimately and allow them to follow their interests at a pace that is developmentally appropriate . . . They. Will. THRIVE!
Walnut Forest Academy has two teachers per classroom with no more than sixteen students in total.
Not only is this 1:8 ratio of teachers-to-students important for all of the reasons indicated above, but it is also necessary for safety.
As a nature-based microschool, we spend two-thirds of the day outside. Risky play is a huge component of our program; making extra teachers essential.
We know for sure that a big part of our school’s success, student happiness, and parent satisfaction is due to our small class sizes.