The Challenges of Teaching a Combined Grade Class

Written By Abena Sey

December 20, 2023

At the time that I write this blog, it has been four amazing months of school with my combined grades two and three students.  I describe the first half of the school year as amazing, not because it has been a perfect experience, but because I was able to see the fruits of my labour planning and preparing for this teaching assignment several months prior.  I also say amazing, because of the new challenges that I experienced, and how I was able to persevere through them.  In my previous blog, I discussed the joys of teaching a combined grade class, but I would be remiss if I didn’t discuss some of the challenges that have come my way as a combined grade teacher.  I discuss these challenges and how I addressed them successfully in order to maintain my peace and remain focused on my teaching goals this school year.    

Curriculum misalignment: Sometimes the curriculums for each grade’s subject do not align

There will be times when the curriculums of a subject for both grades do not align.  This may be for subjects, such as science and social studies, where the topics are specific to the grade level and there is no overlap or natural progression from one grade to the next.  This is a challenge that can be overcome in a few ways.  In my case, another teacher had an open spot in her schedule and was able to teach science to my grade two students.  This arrangement helped me to focus on my grade three students’ science curriculum, and I am grateful that my administration considered how this teacher could be a support to me.  If you do not have this option, and teaching science and social studies to both grades is your responsibility, you may have to choose a topic from one grade at a time and switch grades for each unit.  This may look like teaching a science unit from one grade and teaching your next science unit for the other grade.  This strategy serves as a good review for the grade who may have learned the material the year before and good exposure for the students who will learn next year’s material.  If you are concerned about repetition, always consider the fact that you will bring your own unique approach to teaching the content.  Do not worry if your students express to you that they learned the material last year.  Remind them that they will now be the experts to support their teacher and peers during this unit.  Students in the younger grade will be empowered to know that they are learning material designed for the older grade.  You can decide how you will differentiate each grade’s assessments.

Every minute matters 

Another challenge for the combined grade teacher is feeling pressed for time.  While this is something that all teachers feel from time to time, regardless of their assignment, the pressure is increased for the combined grade teacher who must maximize teaching blocks in order to cover double the content.  Things will take a little longer, because you may have to teach material twice.  When planning your lessons, it is important to take this into consideration so that you will not feel frustrated.  Additionally, you must take into account that the younger grade may be a little slower than the older grade.  Prepare material and routines for early-finishers, and plan how to support learners who complete their independent work at a slower pace.    

Differentiating assessments can mean double the time for testing

It is important for the combined grade teacher to differentiate learning resources and assessments according to the students’ grade level and their personal learning goals.  Differentiating assessments may involve assigning two different tests / quizzes for each grade level, and as a result, the time allotted for testing may increase.  This may initially lead to frustration, but I encourage you to be patient with your students and yourself.  Things will take double the time, but as the year progresses, students will become familiar with your testing format and will get faster at completing the tasks.  As suggested above, ensure that you have quiet activities and routines for early finishers and ways to support those who need extra time.  

Schedule conflicts 

A combined grade class may experience schedule conflicts for school wide events that may be grade- or division- specific.  To plan for times such as these, rely on your partner teacher or other staff members to provide coverage.  You can also consult with your administration to plan for your whole class to participate in these events.  If your class is excused, take advantage of the gift of extra time to work towards curricular goals.  I like to use extra time to practice literacy or numeracy concepts to reinforce skills.

Managing parent concerns

Parents’ concerns about their child’s placement in the combined grade class is something that you may experience.  Your administration may have proactively reached out to parents to inform them of their child's placement in the combined grade classroom prior to the start of the school year.  Initially, there may be a few questions from parents about the decision and through good communication about your approach to teaching both grades, parents may be at ease.  However, as the school year progresses and when an issue arises, such as dissatisfaction with a student's performance during the term or conflict between peers, parents may question the decision to place their child in this learning environment.  This question must be directed to your administration, since the decision for students’ placement was not yours.  You can, however, support your administration by sharing the benefits to the student of being in this class.  In my experience, the dynamic of my class allowed me to focus on the students who needed extra support.  I assured these parents that because the other students were able to work independently, I was able to provide their child with extra support and resources in small group lessons.  These parents were happy to learn about the extra care and attention their child received as they worked towards their learning goals.  

Maintaining your energy to teach and manage your students’ energy levels

This challenge affects all teachers, but is especially important for the combined grade teacher.  My first piece of advice is to take good care of yourself!  Ensure that you are getting enough sleep and are managing your stress levels.  You can only operate at your best, when you are feeling physically and mentally well.  Do not neglect yourself or your time with your family and / or friends.  In addition to planning for your students’ school day, include blocks of time for your own rest and leisure outside of school.  If you are struggling, discuss with a colleague that you trust for support or seek the advice of a professional to help you re-focus your energy and attain peace.  

Teaching in a combined grade classroom may come with challenges related to communication, planning, organization, and often times issues that are beyond your control.  Do not despair, because there are practical solutions to help you overcome them and experience personal satisfaction in your teaching assignment.