5th Grade Class placement

For next school year DH and I decided to put the I&I together, for the first time. Our main reason was the class size increases by a lot in 5th Grade (from 20 to 28-30), and over the years the amount of home work and teaching styles differs SO much. Isabel is very outgoing, fun loving, while Isidra is quiet and follows the rules to the t. The principal called me in her office today, to make sure we really wanted the girls together. Their respective teachers apparently think it will not be good idea, because Isabel's outgoiness will overshadow Isidra completely. I can see that concern to some extent, but feel it shouldn't be a problem since Isabel has to sit up front, due to vision problems, and Isidra doesn't. Isidra will also focus on her work and get it done in a timely fashion, no matter if Isabel is around or not. The kids all hang out during recess as it is, and have their own friend circles too. Both girls are o.k. to be in the same class, we talked to them numerous times about it, together and separately. So should I follow the teachers recommendations and keep them separate? Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

I just lost my entire post!

Anyway, what I basically said, was, there is more to the class dynamic than they sit in different parts of the room. I know that Marcus is very different when his brother is in his class. If the teachers felt that strongly that they brought their concerns to the principal, I would probably head their advise.

 

My girls have been together so far and have no academic or social issues. Both are at the top of the class and have several separate friends. It's really nice having the same homework

 

I agree with Sharon on this. :good:

And you did say you see their concern to some extent. I guess I don't quite understand why class size and homework load would cause you to want them together for fifth grade (when they haven't been together in the past). For homework, they should be pretty much independent. I have a fifth grader now, so that is what I am basing it on.

 

i'm assuming they switch classes and are on teams..if that is the case can they be on the same team but in different classes throughout the day. If they are self contained, I have to agree with the others.

 

I agree with Sharon. I also do not understand the reasoning behind putting them in the same classroom. I think different teachers have different teaching styles and one may not learn as well with the same teacher. The teachers spend time with them while they are at school and know how they act there. I would put a lot of weight on their thoughts.
Are you still on the fence about putting them together? Is that why you are posting this? *From a twin standpoint* No matter where my twin was in class, there is no way that I would speak up or participate if she was in the same classroom as I was at that age. That is me though.

 

I also want to add, our school uses a two teacher team for 4th and 5th grades. This year mine were on the same team, but with different classes. I just asked the teachers if I should make that request for next year. They asked that I allow them to place the boys in the class that fits each one the best, so I am going with them. They are the ones who know how the kids are in school.

 

Thanks for all responses. After talking to some of their previous teachers and their horseback riding instructors, we'll put them together. As far the the homework goes, they do it independently, but all the classes Isidra has been in they cover a lot more material throughout the day, that she never really had any homework, which is upsetting to Isabel.

 

Hi there! Our twins are going to 4th grade this year, and for the first time ever, I have requested that they be in the same class.

I feel comfortable that the boys can do well in the same class. But each set of twins is different, with their little personalities. I figure that they will probably be in separate groups anyway.

The reason I chose to put them together is because last year was a really tough year for us. So I do understand where you're coming from. While one twin was in a fun classroom, with an amazing teacher, who did so many fun and exciting things, with a room parent that loved parties, my other son was in a class with a teacher that wasn't into many fun activities, with a split grade class (3rd and 4th graders together, with only 10 3rd graders), with a room parent that was sweet, but very very simple, and parents that never volunteered to help out, to give the teacher more time to plan fun activities. Not to mention the differences in homework. So, we decided to put them together this year, to even things out a bit.

Also, another major reason we chose to put them together is because they are identical. They have never had the experience of being confused in the classroom by their classmates and teachers during school, although they are sometimes confused during recess. I felt that before they enter middle school, they needed to be exposed to the feeling of frustration of being confused for your twin brother. I hope that this experience will teach them how to deal with that frustration, before they go to middle school.

Personally, I never based my decisions on what was easier for ME. I always based them on what was best for the kids. And because they are identical, I always felt that it was best to separate them in school, despite the extra work for me. But I have to admit that the thought of attending field trips for one class, teaching art to one class, attending parties and events for one class, helping out in one class, and having the kids have the same homework, is quite appealing to ME!!

Good luck as the new school year begins!

 

I would definately take the girls opinion in consideration, but also if they have NEVER been in a classroom together they may not fully know what it will be like and be able to balance pros/cons.

If teachers are actively suggesting one thing for a reason and not a blanket 'we keep twins apart' statement, I would heed their advice.

Mine, too, have been together. They will be together again in 2nd grade. The teacher and principall stated that usually they do suggest twins be split, but other than a blanket 'twin policy' statement- they did feel they would do well together.

But they both do not have any higher than standard academic competition between them (they are at the same levels for the most part), both have different friends, both are outgoing,and there is no personality changes when one of the twins is absent/gone from school. Most parents in the volunteer rotation did not know they were twins for a long long time.

Yet, both have special needs and when it comes down to it: they really provide great support for each other if they see a *real* offense being committed by a peer to their twin concerning their special needs. This is in a positive way- neither twin is dominant- but the school and DH and I agree that it provides at least one person to support them for their unique situation in the classroom.

Plus, in separate classrooms one would have traveled to the others constantly for ability grouping. They are both at the same reading/spelling/math level...and those are grouped across the three classrooms. It seemed silly to have one travel several times a day if all things considered- keeping them in the same class would be helpful (one DD struggles with having multiple teachers and does best with as few different teachers as possible at this point in her life).

Yes, many kids are different in school (even from other group settings like Girl/Boy scouts, lessons, play dates, etc). The teachers also know the personalities of each other and the kids and what is a good/poor fit. They also can mix/match kid personalities so that there are no major clashes in the classroom.

Could this be because one of your DDs is not completing the work so it is sent home as homework? I only ask because our grade level teams work at the same pace all the time, since they switch for reading/writing groups. One teacher that covers the material at a different rate would need to make adjustments to the teaching schedule.

Behavior in a riding class is a far different situation than school, just as a side note.

Have fun-- all that said. My two are in the same class. After a lot of research and discussion we have kept them-- but that was with with teacher and principal saying in their situation they thought is was 'OK', even if they usually split twins. We did a lot of reading of studies on twins in same/different classes and the long term outcome. The overall consensus was that if the twins had a dominant/passive twin, the twins have different levels of academic ability, or the twins struggle to function with different friends/activities that separation may be good in 2 grade on. Otherwise, they found little differences in self-esteem, academic development, and social growth. There is a strong movement for laws to be passed that allows for parental choice in multiple birth placement since each situation is different and a blanket statement of 'together or separate' is not best for each situation/age/grade/multiple set. And those needs may change as the years go by.


I hope your DD have a great year!!!

 

We chose to put Cassie and Ethan together for the first time this year (5th grade). The main reason was because they requested it. All of the other sets of twins at their grade level have been together throughout school, and they wanted that experience.

We had multiple long talks about it. We were hesitant to do it but they were in the same math class for 3/4 of the school year in 4th grade (ability grouping) and did fine together.

They started school yesterday and are in the same class with the other set of boy/girl twins at their grade level. Their teacher is also a parent of twins and had my older son for 5th grade, so I'm pretty confident it will go well.

I'm more worried about the three boys in the class that Ethan tends to not get along with (they know how to push his buttons).

 

Update: We met the teacher today, and she seemed, as did the rest of their former teachers, excited to have them in their class together. We also wrote her a letter explaining their very different personalities, just in case, but all in all we are all happy with our decision.

 

I hope it goes well!!