Y2/3 mixed class, any advice or essential need to know info?

[pinkrocker]

What's been successful for you when you have planned for a Y2/3 mixed class? I would be very interested in your top tips for September!
(I'm an NQT currently teaching Y1/2 and would take the majority of them with me into a Y2/3 class.

Will there also be a straight year 3 or y3/4 mixed class? If so, it is really important to make sure things are visibly fair for the year 3s- not just the right academic level (which I am sure you would be aware of!), but things like is there an afternoon play, are they getting the same type of PE (often year 3/4 get “matches” and y2/3 get “skills”), are other year 3s calling them the babies. It is a challenge as splitting over the key stage and it is the little things that often matter most to the children.

Hi, thanks for replying!
No, I'd have all the current Y2 cohort and a handful of my current Y1. (They may be in another mixed class in 2 years time when they get to Y5.)
My current Y1/2 often get an afternoon break of 10 mins, but those who are going from Y1 to be my Y2s in my planned Y2/3 won't get that, as the current Y3 don't have one. Do you think that poses any difficulties?

If the school's doing a mixed Y2/3 they need to work out what's going to happen in terms of things like playtimes if KS1 have a different school day to KS2. If it's a new year group split then someone needs to sit down and work out if the class is following the KS1 or KS2 day structure (when I was in that situation - with the year group composition moving from R/1/2, 3/4, 4/5 to R/1, 2/3, 4/5/6 - tiny school... they decided to just make the 2/3 class follow KS1 in terms of playtimes and end of school times).

If you have all the year 3s it is easier - how many year 2s? If 2/3 or more y 3 definitely follow a y3 time schedule. Will you have the oldest or most able year2s, or a random selection? Liase with whoever has the other year 2s or you will get parents complaining that the year 2 s with you have got advantages or are being pushed too hard (you can’t win!). Do you have a spiral curriculum for history/ science etc?

Tanaqui all the Y2 (about 15) and perhaps 5-6 Y1. The Y1 will be picked by friendship groups, they may possibly be the HA too. The ones I'm thinking of have parents that would appreciate them being pushed, but they'd also want them to have an afternoon break which I agree with.
We have a 2 yr rolling topic schedule which would probably work out fine.
Fingers crossed!!

Grimsqueaker (love the name, btw) I think they'll follow the Y1/2 timetable, it would make sense.
We all have the same breaktimes and finish at 3.30 anyway. KS1 eat first, 15 mins earlier than KS2 due to small size of lunch hall, but that's the only difference I can imagine for timings!

Also, if you haven’t taught year 4 before, I would ask to spend a lesson in with the current year 4s, look at a few books, and chat to their teacher about what they expect to see in September, so you have a rough idea of where you are getting them to (particularly if they have books from last September!).

Thanks for replying again!
I taught year 4/5 on my final placement last year, so I think I'll be ok. One of the current Y2 is absolutely flying with maths so they will be one for me to really challenge, so yes I will look at the Y4 curriculum for that child too.