Everyone has a preference when it comes to learning. Some people are hands-on learners, others prefer to read to themselves, and still others need pictures! And when it comes to education, teaching style isn’t the only thing that makes a difference – class size can, too! While the size of your student’s class may not make or break whether or not he or she gains a solid education, there are several benefits of a small class size. Read on to see the top 5 things your child could potentially gain from a smaller class or even an educational enrichment program.

Benefits of Small Class Size (Bigger Isn’t Always Better)

 1. Observation

On the most basic level, a small class means that a teacher will be better able to notice your child on a regular basis, and he or she will be able to pick up on each student’s learning patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. In short, the teacher will have a better chance of understanding how your child is doing.

2. Time

A small class size means the time a teacher has is spread between fewer students but also more time to devote to questions and the topic. Say that half the class doesn’t understand – half of a class of 8 is a lot smaller than half of a class of 25! The teacher with a smaller class has a big advantage when it comes to moving ahead to advanced topics.

3. Personalized Lessons

Because a teacher with a small class is able to observe all of his or her students relatively equally, and because he or she is afforded more time for each students, lessons and teaching styles can become much more personalized for individual student needs – a plus in any parents book.

For example, some students learn better through visuals or hands-on projects; however, less traditional teaching methods often take more time, make kids more rowdy, and may even be expensive. In a smaller class, there is more time per student already, the rowdiness can be more manageable than with a large group, and the expense is limited because there are fewer students to buy for.

4. Community

Small class sizes provide an opportunity for all members of the class to collaborate and problem-solve together. Teachers can pair up students who he or she believes can benefit from each other’s learning styles, and students who are more comfortable with their classmates will be much more willing to state their ideas and work together to achieve a goal.

5. Feedback

Put all of these ingredients together and you have the perfect recipe for a teacher-parent relationship. The more time your student’s teacher has spent observing your child and getting to know him or her, the more easily the teacher will find it to provide you with the most specific and helpful feedback possible. What happens in the classroom becomes strengthened when it is re-iterated at home and beyond, so this type of feedback will be invaluable when it comes to you extending beyond the school day the lessons and habits learned by your student,

What do you think? Have you seen the benefits of a small class size in your student’s life? Do you wish your child was in a smaller class? Have you tried any extra-curricular options to supplement the education your student is receiving in his or her large class? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Author: Emily Karth, Writer and Teacher at A Grade Ahead