Applejacks Teacher

by Karen Jackson

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Class
  • Shop
  • Contact

How to Manage a Combo Class – Curriculum

January 19, 2020

Teaching a combo class isn’t easy. Managing the curriculum alone can be challenging. I have been teaching a fourth and fifth grade combo class for the last seven years and most days I do it well, but some days I don’t.

The teacher who taught the combo class before me would differentiate math only. All other subject areas she would teach whole class. She would teach 4th grade social studies curriculum one year and then 5th grade curriculum the next year. This, of course, is problematic because some students might leave the school or come into the class at the wrong time and the curriculum would be repeated. Nothing worse than a child who has two years in a row of the same science lessons.

I decided that I would differentiate math, social studies, and science for each grade. I only do language arts with both classes. And even then I do different novel readings that go with our social studies curriculum.

For math I use NYEngage. So I have two full sets of binders with lessons, problem sets, homework, exit tickets, and assessments for each grade. I also have both social studies and science curriculums. Sometimes I grab the wrong binder (wrong grade), copy the wrong number of sheets I need, and just get confused who has a test Friday. But I ask the students to give me grace since I am prepping twice as many preps than other teachers.

Some field trips are separated, like a trip to the courts or going to a Rancho to learn about the history of California. But then others I will do with all the students. It depends on the activity and availability. Luckily my principal will give me a substitute to say back and teach the grade not going. Other times, I have had to deploy one group of kids to other teachers for a few hours. Usually, three to four students would work independently in the back of another teacher’s classroom. I can only do this when there are enough teachers willing to help me out.

4th Graders at Buena Vista Adobe

Language Arts is the only subject area I can do with everyone at the same time. All the students are reading different reading books and the writing curriculum is very similar for both 4th and 5th grade. Below is a picture of my students doing a gallery walk of the Thanksgiving stories they all wrote.

When I do activities, like the volume (5th grade) and area (4th grade), I will conduct them together and differentiate them too. In this center, students had to calculate what they thought the volume of M & M’s were in the jar, while others had to calculate the area of the brownies.

Finally, I create my own curriculum for my classroom. I have created math activities for the entire year for holidays and different math concepts. While I teach math to one grade the other grade works on math activities I have created. And vice versa.

I am grateful that I am very familiar with both 4th and 5th grade curriculums and that I am very organized. It is not easy teaching two grades at the same time, but I do the best I can and most days I am successful.

Karen

«
»

Filed Under: Applejacks Teacher

Subscribe via Email

Grab A Button

Grab A Button

Search

Archives

Latest on Facebook

Applejacks Teacher

1 years ago

Applejacks Teacher

This is how messy my desk was when leaving to lunch. Multitasking at its best!
#teachersofthegram #teacherlife #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher
... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

Applejacks Teacher is in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.

1 years ago

Applejacks Teacher

My current view! ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

Applejacks Teacher

1 years ago

Applejacks Teacher

Wow! Thirty-two pillows! I am going through all linens and have discovered I have way to much! Downsizing big time. These don’t count all the pillows on the 3 beds in the house either. 🤣🤣🤣 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

Applejacks Teacher

2 years ago

Applejacks Teacher

All ready for school to open Monday! One kiddo at each desk and spread out for social distancing. 😊 ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

Applejacks Teacher

2 years ago

Applejacks Teacher

We made Gnome Valentine’s Day cards in class today! So fun! #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife🍎 #teacherlife #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgadeteacher ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
·Share

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

Latest on Instagram

This is how messy my desk was when leaving to lunc This is how messy my desk was when leaving to lunch. Multitasking at its best!
#teachersofthegram #teacherlife #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher
My current view! My current view!
Wow! Thirty-two pillows! I am going through all li Wow! Thirty-two pillows! I am going through all linens and have discovered I have way to much! Downsizing big time. These don’t count all the pillows on the 3 beds in the house either. 🤣🤣🤣
All ready for school to open Monday! One kiddo at All ready for school to open Monday! One kiddo at each desk and spread out for social distancing. 😊
We made Gnome Valentine’s Day cards in class tod We made Gnome Valentine’s Day cards in class today! So fun! #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife🍎 #teacherlife #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgadeteacher
Just finished putting all Christmas stuff away and Just finished putting all Christmas stuff away and came back for the last two blankets and Nachos made himself comfortable. #teacherlife #teacherlife🍎 #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #chihuahuasofinstagram #chihuahualife #chihuahua
Happy New Year! #teacherlife #teacherlife🍎 #tea Happy New Year!
#teacherlife #teacherlife🍎 #teacherfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #onceuponabookclub #onceuponabookclubbox
Last day of school before break we played Quaranti Last day of school before break we played Quarantine Bingo! Thanks to my room parents for making all the bingo cards and running the activity. #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherslife #teacherlife🍎
My Friday morning! #teachersofinstagram #teachersf My Friday morning! #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife #teacherlife🍎 #teacherlife🍎📚✏️
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs