One of the biggest problems facing schools and teachers today is overcrowding. A combination of a growing population and a decline in funding has caused class sizes to skyrocket. In an ideal world, class sizes would be limited to 15-20 students. Unfortunately, many classrooms now regularly exceed 30 students, and it is not uncommon for there to be more than 40 students in a single class.
Classroom overcrowding has sadly become the new normal. The problem is unlikely to go away anytime soon, so schools and Teachers must create workable solutions to get the most out of a bad situation.
Problems created by crowded classrooms
Teaching in a classroom with many students can be frustrating, overwhelming, and stressful. A crowded classroom presents challenges that can seem almost impossible to overcome, even to the most effective teachers. Increasing class sizes is a sacrifice many schools have to make to keep their doors open in an era when schools are underfunded.
Cramped classrooms create a number of problems for modern school systems, including:
- There is not enough teacher for everyone
- Discipline problems increase
- Difficult students lag behind and do not progress as they should
- School statistics look resentful
- The overall noise level increases
- Teacher stress often increases, leading to extreme burnout
- Overcrowding leads to less access to equipment and technology
Possible solutions
If you have to teach in a crowded classroom it is important that you have some solutions in mind to be able to overcome the day to day with success. When nothing works, schools may be forced to enact what is known as a reduction in force, where teachers and staff are fired for budgetary reasons and class sizes subsequently increase. Even on tight budgets, areas can take certain steps to alleviate crowding problems:
- Take advantage of skill pooling. Class sizes should be kept relatively small for those who are performing poorly. Students who are academically strong have less to lose in a crowded classroom.
- Provide teachers with a helper. Providing a teacher with a helper can help lessen the burden on the teacher. Assistants receive a lower salary, so placing them in crowded classrooms would improve the student / teacher ratio and keep costs lower.
- Request donations. Private schools are able to keep their doors open due to tuition and largely by soliciting donations. In tough financial times, public school administrators shouldn't be afraid to solicit donations, either.
- Apply for grants. There are many grant opportunities available to schools each year. Grants are available for just about everything, including technology, supplies, professional development, and even the teachers themselves.
Solutions for teachers
Teachers in crowded classrooms need to be organized and well prepared each day. They will have to develop a fluid system through trial and error to maximize the time they have with their students. Teachers can generate solutions for crowded classrooms by considering the following:
- Create lessons that are engaging for students to increase interest
- Have individualized tutoring for struggling students who need more study time after school or additional explanations
- Assign rotating seats whenever necessary to be able to have all students close by at one point or another during the course
- Understand that the dynamics of the crowded classroom is different and that the differences will be significant
Teachers must understand that they will not be able to spend time with every student every day. They must understand that they will not know each student on a personal level. That is simply the reality in a crowded classroom. Also, structure is very important in any classroom. Teachers should set clear rules and expectations on the first day, and then move on as the year progresses. Clear rules and expectations will help create a much more manageable class, where students know what to do and when, especially a crowded class.