Please help threebob with my research about preschool siblings.

[threebob]

I am researching how to teach pre school music classes (small 12 children ones, not the sing along type) to mixed age classes. I will be one of the first 3 teachers in NZ to get this diploma (if successful)

Most text books tell you to seperate children into age ranges for best results - but this is only practical in preschools and with first children.

I am looking for peoples opinions and experiences of having more than one child and going to groups (doesn't have to be music)

Threebob, no, it is infact for 3+ but we are "allowed" to bring siblings if they sit in the corner and don't utter a word. DD did remarkably well for 18 months! I then had to pay for her because if I could not take her then DS could not attend, plus DD was joining in regardless

threebob - I had the same people - it was a half termly class - you signed up for your spot and paid half termly. Now and again someone from a class on a different day would do a make up - but only asking first. Mine had quite a lot of props - I had enough of certain instruments for everyone to have one etc. Also we had a half termly theme - animals, the weather, transport etc. We sang largly songs that were relevant and built a repertoire over the half term. Def not for drop ins. I also think if you are doing small groups you want people committed and paid by the term because if the arrangement is casual and people decide not to come you can lose the dynamic of a group pretty quickly.
You know what your income for the 7 weeks will be. It allows everyone to work around school holidays etc.
Also they get to know each others names, become friends etc. its good for them too - the last one of a term we sometimes did a coffee morning type thing afterwards.

Anyone else got anything?