by Jennifer Marino
Last spring, at the March 18 Board of Education meeting, Wilson parents came to express concern about the reduction from four sections of fourth grade to three sections of fifth grade. There had been five requests, one from each elementary school, to split classes to numbers under the class size caps. Superintendent William Johnson, along with the school principals, investigated each class, looking into factors such as English as a second language, inclusion and speech in the classes.
The research showed that none of the classes stood out in a way that would justify making the split, according to Johnson. Wilson parents, especially those of then fourth -graders, spoke out at the board meeting and submitted a petition to the board.
None of the splits were made, and the Wilson fifth grade is three sections this year. However, principal Tom Ricupero brainstormed with his Academic Intervention Services staff and came up with the idea for the fifth grade annex, the former art room. There was some available space at the school, art was shifted back to its original home, and the most recent art room, at the end of the first floor hall, became the fifth grade annex.
About 18 students attend a double period of literacy and an hour of math in the room. Fifth-graders can also sign up to have lunch in the room with friends from other classes for two weeks. There is a new sign up every two weeks, and children who have yet to take the option are asked if they want to try it before another student does it twice.
Fifth-grade parent and PTA vice president Trina Firestone said her son has eaten lunch with his buddies in the annex. He thought it was great, she said.
When the students go to the annex, there are about 20 kids in each of the other three classrooms. The annex is used to help with the instructional setting and optimize the teacher/student ratio, said Ricupero.
Besides math, literacy and lunch, the annex is also being used to help the students prepare for the state assessment in social studies. Each teacher covers a certain part of the test, like political cartoons or multiple choice, and the students rotate so they learn each aspect.
It's working out very well, said Nancy Howard, PTA president and fifth-grade parent. The kids get to learn in smaller groups and they get to see what it's like to have different instructors, she said.
The system helps the kids get to know everyone in their grade and prepares them for the changing of classes they'll experience in sixth grade. All the fifth-grade rooms are on the end of the hallway, next to the annex, so little instructional time is lost during the change of rooms.
Thank God Mr. Ricupero came up with a creative solution, said Firestone.
Another product of the March 18 board meeting was the idea to convene a committee about class size. The Wilson parents felt that 28 fifth-graders were too many to have in a room that also houses book bags, musical instruments and adults other than the teacher at various times. Johnson hopes to announce members, including parents, of an Instructional Priorities Committee this month. At that time, he will announce what the charges of the committee will be.
