Teaching mixed classes

[Pebbleinthesand]

I'd love to hear some experiences and opinions on teaching mixed year groups.

I interviewed this week for a mixed nursery and reception job but have been offered Y3/4 mixed class.

I've asked the head for the weekend to think it through as it's a different contract and a risky move for me but I love the school and am excited by the opportunity.

I've only ever taught in 2 form entry though so despite having experience of Y3 and Y4, I've never done it together.

Any and all experiences and opinions welcome, please.

I teach a mixed class. Yes it took a while to get my head around it but we have a two year rolling problem that covers all objectives. However, in all honesty I teach to the higher year.
Maths is my biggest problem. We use white rose mixed year planning and that term is the biggest contradiction I’ve ever heard!!! I have teach two year groups at once, it’s a nightmare.

Not two year groups, two different lessons at once.

I’ve not experienced this as a teacher, but my DC have been to two schools that do this. Both run two year curriculums like @Seashor suggested and that seems to work well (one of their teachers preferred it to teaching the same thing every year). Maths was different in the two schools though: one regrouped for maths (with TA / head etc teaching some groups), and the other tried to teach everyone at the same time (with chess as an extension task - DS got very good at chess!) Pros and cons of both of those.

I think I’d be asking how well established the schemes of learning already are (can you at least start with planned schemes and then develop as you get the hang of it, or will you be planning from scratch?) and what happens for maths. I’d also think carefully about how you’d support pupils with friendships / socialising as they have to get good at working with different people each year (which is actually great practice for secondary school).

I’d suggest the other thing to consider is how you’d feel about teaching in a (presumably) much smaller school? There’s often more responsibility, but fewer TLRs on offer, and a general sense that everyone ‘mucks in’ on pretty much everything.