Summer School's a Blast!

Well, the first three days of summer school have passed.  Now 17 more to go.  We tried our departmentalization and grouping of kids and it has been great!  We divided our 15 kiddos into 3 groups (using a certified para for group 3) and each are teaching a different subject.  I thought I was going to really struggle giving up Math and Science, but I think I have done pretty good.  Reading, Writing, and Social Studies will fall on my shoulders.  Sure beats planning for 5 subjects and differentiating each one.  Now I only focus on 3 subjects, which are easily intertwined, and my groups are more evenly distributed.

Grouping of Kiddos
This is where you have to be flexible.  We service students ranging from K-5th grade.  Even if they are in a certain grade doesn't mean they are performing at that grade level.  It's hard to ask them to do something when they haven't mastered the skills needed to do it.  (And asking high fliers to "wait" for others to finish tasks easily completed by them even when completing differentiated work covering the same skill)  We have had to move students around and regroup them during the first three days, but they have been troupers and I think we have finalized our groups.  Group 1 is mainly K-2, Group 2 is mainly 2-4, and Group 3 is mainly 3-5.  Each group has no more than 6 kiddos in it.  Very manageable.  Beats K-2 with 8 kiddos and 3-5 with 7 kiddos and a whole range of abilities.  For students struggling with behavioral challenges I think this is a fantastic way to meet their individual needs.

Scheduling and Rotating
At first I thought it was going to hard to have them rotating from one classroom to the next, but I think the definite break in each subject and movement has helped them.  They see a beginning and end to each subject and movement breaks are just what they need.  I have only heard positive comments from them about moving classrooms.  Summer school schedule is a little easier to manage because lunch is more flexible and we don't have to accommodate specials classes.  Hopefully we can make the regular school year just as smooth.

Just on a side note...I got this fantastic idea from a very dear friend from another district who uses this in her alternative setting. :)