As parents, educators, and students navigate the increasingly complex and changing world of education, one benefit seems to remain consistent: Small class sizes. You’ve no doubt heard of schools that prioritize small class sizes, but how and why are these schools better than a more traditional environment? This factor has far reaching benefits on both the academic and emotional success for students. Whether present in a traditional school or an online program like Tenney School Live, small class sizes provide an
individualized touch that is an effective piece to the educational experience. So, without further ado, let’s dive into our 9 reasons why small class sizes matter!
Why Small Class Sizes Matter!
1. Personalized Attention for Every Student
When classes are small, teachers are able to focus on the individual needs of each student. As students move into middle or high school, the needs of each student begins to change and develop. This slowly develops into a student’s learning preference, contributing to a student’s learning performance. With small class sizes, teachers are able to explore the academic needs of students. We’ve found in our one-to-one programs, that students thrive when learning in an optimized classroom. What do I mean by this? The smaller the classroom is, the more comfortable the student is while learning. For our program, since it’s one-to-one, we’re able to cater the entire lesson plan around the student. This means the student is able to move at the pace that makes sense for them, without compromising their potential!
2. Enhanced Student Engagement
As students get older, they prefer environments that show them their seen and valued. Smaller classes are able to give these students the value they desire from a classroom setting. This directly contributes to engagement. A student in a smaller class is more likely to ask questions, contribute to discussions, and develop a deeper understanding of the lesson material. We’ve seen this directly in both our online and in-person school! We’ve found that when students are in our one-to-one classes, they further develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In middle school, this is especially important as students are developing their executive functioning skills!
3. Improved Academic Outcomes
This may seem like an obvious one, but it needs to be stated: Small class sizes directly contribute to an improved academic outcome for students. In a study we conducted last year, we found that our students improve their standardized test scores each year by 5 percent! This is in direct relation to our small class sizes. When students learn at their own pace, they feel more control in the classroom. This control helps motivate them to reach their potential and more!
4. Stronger Teacher-Student Relationships
While we touched on the direct, academic benefits of small class sizes, it should be stated that there are numerous social benefits too! The teacher-student relationship is able to flourish in these settings. The reasoning is that each teacher is able to develop a more personalized relationship with each student. The benefit of this is a better understanding in the classroom of student needs as well as teacher needs! Fostering an environment that encourages open communication, and a development of trust is essential for all students on their academic journey. This is especially beneficial for students struggling with anxiety or academic pressure!
5. A Calm Learning Environment
We can all recall a time where we had anxiety about a class. Academic anxiety is more prevalent than ever before, which is where small class sizes come in! For a student with academic anxiety, a calm learning environment is necessary for success. When the class size is smaller, the teacher is able to ease tensions and manage student anxiety! We’ve seen a number of students enroll in our online program due to anxiety, and through our one-on-one learning, they gain the confidence and skills desired to handle academic stress!
See the Benefit of Small Class Sizes Today!
Small class sizes are an essential part of a student’s academic success. Not only do they prepare the student for the real world, but they also foster confidence, relationships, and ease anxiety! We urge you to see the benefit of small class sizes by inquiring today or scheduling a tour of our in-person school! Here you can see how our one-on-one classes function and the direct benefit they have on the student and their academic journey!
