The past two types of teaching that I have discussed dealt with students seeing multiple teachers throughout the day. In today’s teaching style, I will discuss the self-contained classroom.
When a classroom is considered to be self-contained, the students remain with the same teacher for all subject areas. The only time that the students leave the teacher is for lunch and for a scheduled activity such as music, physical education, or library.
Most primary grades are self-contained. The students stay with the same teacher throughout the day and the teacher teaches all of the subject areas.
In a self-contained classroom, the teacher has the freedom to be flexible and adjust the schedule as needed. The teacher may incorporate two or three subject areas into one large lesson. The teacher can create a personal relationship with the students and can carry out long-term projects and activities.
Although most primary teachers prefer to be self-contained, there are disadvantages. When teaching in a self-contained classroom, the teacher has no opportunity for a change in students. If a teacher is experiencing trouble or a personality clash with a student, there is no break or separation from the child. In return there is no opportunity for the students to experience another atmosphere.
I have taught in both semi-departmentalized and self-contained teaching situations. I feel that primary grades are best in a self-contained teaching style. It is often hard for the students to adjust when moving from one classroom to the next. It is also difficult for small children to keep up with their supplies when moving from one location to another.
I also enjoy that when teaching self-contained, I can adjust my daily schedule to my liking. Some days I can have a longer reading class and some days I can have a longer math class. In a departmentalized teaching setting, timing is very important. Other classes and teachers depend on you keeping to a schedule.
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