10 Big Benefits of Smaller Class Sizes in Elementary School

Choosing the right elementary school for your children can be hard. There are a lot of factors to consider, from test scores to funding and a dozen other things besides.

One element that may not occur to parents who are looking for schools is class size. The size of your child’s class plays a big part in their learning, and there are many benefits of smaller class sizes.

Smaller class sizes in elementary school can help your child shine and ensures they’ll get the attention they deserve. Teachers agree, with many advocating for class size reduction.

Read on to learn the ten major benefits of smaller class sizes.

1. More Attention From Teachers

One of the greatest benefits of small classes is the ratio of students to teachers. In a larger class, your child is just another face in the crowd; in a smaller class, the teacher has a better chance to get to know each student.

This fosters better relationships between teachers and students. Your child can get more comfortable with their teacher because they’ll have more opportunities to interact.

That added attention will also come in handy if there’s a subject or lesson your child is struggling with–the teacher has a better chance of noticing and being able to help.

2. Fewer Distractions

A large class is a noisy class. The more children in a classroom, the greater the likelihood that some of them will act out. Teachers are also less able to calm down a large student body compared to a small one.

It’s not just about intentional disruption, either. Even small, everyday noises like turning pages and scratching pencils can be bothersome if dozens of people are making them at the same time.

3. Greater Participation

When there are fewer children in a classroom, the kids who are there each have more opportunities to participate. In a class of thirty kids, there isn’t time for everyone to add to a conversation; in a class of ten, there is.

Being able to participate more can help your child feel more confident. They’re able to express ideas, as well as hear differing perspectives from their classmates.

Participating in a safe space, with classmates and a teacher they trust, is a good way to get shy children to open up more.

4. Closer Friendships

Having fewer children in a class allows children to get to know each other better. It’s the same principle as having one-on-one time with a teacher but applied to other students.

Your child will have a better chance to get to know their classmates, helping them form closer bonds. Socializing is an important aspect of going to school, and it’s much easier with a small class.

Smaller class sizes in elementary school also reduce things like peer pressure and bullying, since exclusive cliques are less likely to form.

5. Individual Instruction

Every child learns in a different way and at their own pace. Sometimes, a teacher’s lesson plan doesn’t connect with a student; they need a little extra help or a different approach.

In a large class, it’s hard for a teacher to provide that. There might be a dozen kids who all need individual attention, and a teacher doesn’t have time to find an approach that works for each one.

With a smaller class, it’s easier for a teacher to sit with a student and understand their unique learning style.

6. Teachers Have More Time to Teach

Think about how much administrative work must go into teaching a large class. There’s attendance to deal with, papers to grade, and more. All of that adds up, and it all takes away from the time a teacher has to teach.

When there are fewer children to manage, a teacher can get things done faster, leading to clearer lessons and better education for all the students in the class.

7. More Opportunities for Expression

Smaller classes often allow for greater flexibility in how a child can express themselves. For example, this campus puts a focus on self-directed learning–one of the many benefits of Montessori schools! Similarly, outdoor learning schools offer children the opportunity to develop a deep, personal connection with the natural world, enhancing their creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall academic performance.

Much like participation, self-expression builds your child’s confidence. Being able to be themselves, and having a learning structure that supports them as an individual, can make a huge difference in a child’s life.

8. A Sense of Community

There is a concept called Dunbar’s number that states there is an upper limit to the number of social relationships a person can maintain. That number is fairly low; we don’t have room in our heads for a lot of relationships.

As a result, we tend to form attachments to specific small groups. Large groups are harder to wrap our heads around; people become faces in a crowd rather than unique individuals.

A small class is, therefore, easier for your child to understand and relate to.

9. Teachers Can Cover More Ground

We’ve already pointed out that a smaller class means less administrative work for teachers. While that leads to clearer lessons with more time for questions, there’s another benefit.

With extra time in class, a teacher might be able to cover entire additional chapters or units that there wouldn’t be time for with a larger class. A single year in a small class can pack in more information than a big one.

10. Better Feedback

One of the hardest parts of a teacher’s job is grading papers. That aspect only gets more difficult when a class has dozens of students; looking over all those assignments takes a lot of time.

A smaller class means a smaller workload for the teacher. That allows them to take more time when grading, which means they can give more focused, helpful feedback on each piece of homework.

Enjoy the Benefits of Smaller Class Sizes

The benefits of smaller class sizes are easy to see: your child will get more individual attention and teachers will be able to teach more effectively. Make sure to check on elementary school class size before choosing a school!