Everyone is looking for the best ways for their children to learn. Parents are used to hearing tons of advice, doing research, and seeing what their child connects to. As their child enters school, parents will constantly hear about how important it is for children to be in a smaller class. Spark Math knows parents have a lot of questions, and we want to help. Here are some answers to the biggest questions people have about class size, and how it works in person and online.
Why are smaller classes considered better for kids?
The first thing most parents think about when it comes to small class sizes is the obvious: the fewer students a teacher has in their class, the more attention they can pay to each student. There’s a better chance a student won’t be left behind, or be able to have the personal one-on-one time needed to help them understand a concept. Not every child learns at the same pace, and with a small class size, a teacher is better able to differentiate the learning experience for each child — whether it’s a child who requires extra attention to grasp a math concept or a child that needs more accelerated lessons to keep them challenged.
Small classes also allow kids to feel more empowered and confident in participating and speaking up. They feel less pressure when they truly get to know the other students and are more often selected to explain something to the class. These are all essential life skills for future success.
Has anyone proven small classes work?
The Tennessee Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) project was the first big research study that studied how effective class size is in the United States. This study showed that early learners in smaller classes had, on average, better results than students in bigger classes. Children in small kindergarten classes were not only able to learn subjects easier but also were able to adjust more quickly to the new dynamics school brings.
The advantage of small classes is seen not just during the first years of elementary school, but throughout a child’s entire school career, even when classes these students were in were larger. This comfort with school and learning can even be seen in the higher college graduating rates of students who were in smaller classes.
This may have been the first study of small class size and how it relates to a student’s ability to learn, but it wasn’t the last. Studies have been run throughout the United States and around the world, and have gotten more specific.A study out of New York shows how class size affects the way students learn, score on tests, and generally do over time. In most categories, students fared better when they were in a class smaller than 20 students. To compare, most of Spark Math’s live online classes have a 1:6 teacher to student ratio.
How Spark Math’s small class size benefits your child
No matter how your child learns, in person or online, the more personal attention a teacher can give to a student, the better the outcome. Every Spark Math class has a live certified teacher who interacts with students and helps them truly grasp concepts in real time. The individual attention teachers can give each student is even more personal on our online edtech platform. From animation and games to worksheets, our experienced teachers can tap into a variety of methods to utilize the learning tools that work best for each student and customize their Spark Math journey.
Spark Math classes are focused on creating an experience that works best for every student. With each class having less than eight students, not only do students get the attention they need, but they also have adequate time for discussion and interaction with their classmates. Your child can look forward to such a flexible and conducive learning environment in Spark Math. Plus, our Spark Math Advanced Program prepares kids by teaching math concepts ahead of the primary school curriculum. Gaining knowledge of a subject in advance can make students feel more confident about the material when they finally encounter it in their regular math class at school. Small class sizes are a clear benefit to both students and teachers and set kids up on the path to success in life.
Spark Math online classes are designed for K2 to P4 students. Students can look forward to animated explanations and highly interactive lessons that help them to master math heuristics. Sign up for a FREE trial class to experience Spark Math today!
