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    Classroom Placement Procedures

     

    The Process

     

    Annual classroom placement is carefully determined prior to the start of school for each student returning to Levi Dickey Elementary. Placement is determined by the student’s current teacher and grade level team of teachers. Newly enrolled students are added to the classes as they register, with classroom decisions based on whatever information is available from referring schools and parents and the need to balance class composition. In addition, the principal and the certificated personnel assist with placement.

     

    Purpose

     

    The primary purpose of the placement process is to create equitable classroom environments that allow teachers to meet academic, social and emotional needs of every student. The placement teams ensure a balance of variables in each classroom setting through careful consideration of each student’s individual needs and strengths. These variables include, but are not limited to:

     

                ▪ Gender ratios

                ▪ Levels of academic progress and student needs

                ▪ Degrees of self-directness and independence

                ▪ Class size as it relates to state and district guidelines

     

    Requests for specific teachers are discouraged, since it would be highly unlikely that the staff could successfully build the most productive, balanced class groups on the basis of parent requests (rather than the information and criteria previously outlined).

     

    Combination Classrooms

     

    As most of our community is aware, combination/multi-age classrooms (serving two grade levels) are a fact of schooling in most public elementary schools in California. Because students do not come to us in neat groups of 27 or 31, Levi Dickey Elementary will most likely experience combination classes on an annual basis. When forming combination classes, we assign students on the basis of their instructional strengths and learning styles. Such careful consideration contributes to students’ academic and emotional success in the class. Students in each grade level receive rigorous instruction and support in achieving and excelling in grade level standards. In a single grade level classroom, there are a variety of learners who may be grouped throughout the day based on their ability. Similarly, in a combination class, one group of students works on an independent task while another group receives direct instruction from the teacher.


    Thoughts to Consider

     

    Finally, it is critically important for you to know that students’ attitudes towards their teachers and school are highly influenced by the attitudes and strategies of their parents. We can all provide our children with a successful beginning of the year experience by responding to their classroom assignments with positive enthusiasm. Through confidence in our children’s ability to deal with change, knowledge, cooperation, and trust, we can all work together to enhance personal development and the general school climate for all Levi Dickey students.