Benefits of a Blended Classroom

Sometimes a classroom can look different at a private Christian school. At Lake City Academy, a private Christian school in Coeur 'd’Alene, Idaho, this is by design.

If your little scholar has been attending our school or a school where grades are separated, then this will be your child’s first experience in a blended classroom. In most schools, students are placed in a single-grade class. Wonderful opportunities and experiences could be overlooked in a single grade, however, they are in great abundance in my beautifully blended classroom!

There are many educational and social-emotional advantages in my 3rd/4th grade blended classroom. I find that I have increased flexibility in creating small instructional groups in which I design to meet the academic needs of all my scholars. Learning with others in genuinely collaborative groups is truly effective and certainly could be organized in any type of classroom, but in my blended classroom, it gives me more opportunities to group my scholars flexibly, in different ways, at different times. There are greater opportunities for differentiated instruction allowing me to better meet the academic needs of all my scholars. I love to cultivate positive relationships with teachers and classmates, and a blended classroom offers more opportunities for me to do this. While building strong relationship skills, scholars will develop increased self-confidence and social skills. One of my most favorite benefits of a blended classroom may seem a bit selfish on my part, because I utilize my 4th-grade class to help with establishing routines and beginning of year expectations for my 3rd-grade class, allowing me to get started with our curriculum more quickly. Finally, and maybe most importantly, older scholars serve as role models and leaders, while younger scholars can benefit from the support of their older classmates.

My blended classroom will benefit both grade levels in different ways. Similar to the social dynamics we see in our own families, my younger scholars will pick up on more developed social skills and knowledge from the older scholars. Older scholars will assert responsibility for younger scholars. Because my scholars are varied in age, this promotes and encourages tolerance and acceptance among peers… a skill that is of great significance and value.