Thought experiment - please join me.

[MissTriggs]

Hi, I teach music (primary PPA cover). 35 in a yr 3 class. The class size limits the amount and quality of individual attention each child gets.

Sometimes I wonder if kids would learn more if we "flipped the model" of classtime and play.

So: imagine the kids mainly play on a field (with hillocks,etc), playground (with fun stuff) &roofed area supervised by play supervisors. Books, paper, ukuleles etc all available. Supervisors include musicians, artists, priests if school religious and sports experts.

Teacher has X kids per class. In September, when she doesn't know them, she calls each child in one at a time for a lesson as long as the child's concentration span. After a while, she might set children silent work such as maths, to be done in sight of the room. No group-work. One-to-one instruction, silent practice& and play only.

No levels. No teacher paperwork. Kids sit tests annually.

If there were, say, 20 kids in a class (and ignoring rain!), would a child learn more or less over a year.

Less. It is very inefficient to teach each child the same stuff individually when a lot of it could be transmitted to groups at a time.

Also, if a child is working silently on maths and gets stuck but the teacher can't help because they are tutoring and they can't ask their friend because they are supposed to be silent, then that's their learning finished.

Less. The children in my class learn as much from each other as they do from me. Especially the shy types- it's so helpful for them to have peers to discuss things with.

Ok! Reassuring I guess!

The silent learning sounds dire but the outdoor, free range model sounds like it has potential.

Using techniques like those in the khan academy which flips the class work = teacher imparts knowledge / home work = students practise alone.

So students watch video explanations using appropriate diagrams etc and some practise examples. Then come to class and do collaborative excersises that test and expand what they learnt at home.

If there are 35 in the class, where are the other 15 when you have 20 of them?

Isn't this pretty much how EYFS works (sorry- no EYFS experience)- the children play in an enriched environment and are called in small groups to take part in adult led learning?

1:1 tuition is hideous though- you completely lose the wonderful learning conversations where you can watch the light bulbs go on one by one and pretend you are Socrates. I'm a specialist but I still use 1:1 as rarely as possible.

So 1:2 better?

Interesting, I do lots of one-to -one but that's with kids judged to need it.

Go Socrates! I would much rather have a teacher who felt like Socrates!

I hate pairs too- sets up competition for the adult's attention. I think 4-8 is perfect, with a couple of adults.

Yes, CharlesR, it is! (without the hillocks, ukuleles and range of specialists)

Kagan structures where they peer learn can be useful.

4-8 sounds lovely.........

Do you mean a bit like this?
This is how EYFS works

21pc

Truthfully no, I confess I was organising my thought experiment around the teaching experience. Don't shoot me people!