As Milford starts off another year, some classrooms have been facing new challenges. As students go into their classrooms they may see students from a higher level in the same class. Classes have been combining more and more over the years. German classes have started to experience that this year.

These changes are mostly because of the budget reductions and the number of students taking the class.

German 3 students are now in the same class as German 4 students (German 1 and 2 students don’t share classrooms),

Other departments, such as Art, Auto, and Business have been sharing classes for many years.

German teacher Rich Kynast commented on his combined class.

“The most important thing that happened was that we planned ahead,” Kynast said. “We knew about it enough ahead of time to rearrange the curriculum.”

The material is being cycled throughout the year so that the students who are in German 3 will learn what they need to learn and what German 4 will need to learn by the end of the school year.

The students will learn the same topic, but it will be introduced in a different way, so both groups will know what they need to know.

Overall, the combined classes will learn everything by the end of the year.

“On paper it looks really good,” stated Kynast. “We’ll see how it looks in the classroom as we go through the year.”

Huron Valley has been doing this more each year to not have to cut classes. Numbers play a big role in the classrooms because if they have a small amount of students in one class, the subject may not be continued. This would mean that some students won’t learn what they want to learn.

Also, a part of this deals with the recent budget cuts that the district has suffered. It can save money to combine the classes.

“There will be some overlapping to a certain degree, but there will still be different levels in that classroom,” said Vice Principal Eric Dziobak “German 3 will work on their curriculum and German 4 will work on theirs. Is it more challenging? Yes, but you can also have some benefits.”

The students who are in the German 4 level have a whole year of experience to assist the lower level students, which can benefit the teacher trying to get to every student who needs help with the material.

“Sometimes they’re able to do a lesson that would be applicable to both groups,” said Dziobak.“It depends a lot on the teacher’s approach, but it also depends a lot on what lessons have to be taught for that day.”

Changes to class size in AP Psychology

Combined classes are just one change to the classrooms. Increasing class sizes is another significant approach. AP Psychology has up to 60 students in each hour.

AP Psychology teacher Bill James suggested that the classes should have a large number of students in it.

He would rather have four hours of big classes than five smaller classes like he had last year. James didn’t see how this is different from a normal size class of at least 30 students.

“I don’t notice the difference between 60 people, 50 people, or 20 people in the class,” said James “I think it’s a subject matter, and I think it’s the fact that it’s an AP class.”

As a student goes into college, some classes have far more than 60 students. Some classes may contain over 300 people in an auditorium.

With AP Psychology having a large number of students, it can prepare them for what they can expect from a college class.

“If you go to Michigan State you could have 60 kids in a class,” stated James. “I think having a bigger class like this puts a lot more responsibility looking on the students.”