Teachers aren't the only ones who see the day-to-day impact large class size has on children. Ellen Auerbach Grody, mother of three, has supported her daughter in navigating the challenges of a large class. "With a large class, it was difficult to fit all the desks into the room comfortably. The room was cramped and it was hard to walk around. Kids had a hard time physically staying out of each others' way."

Grody notes that the large class size also made learning difficult on many days. She found that her daughter would return home from school upset because the teacher had to stop the lesson several times to address behavior issues. "Even on a good day when everyone is cooperating, the teacher had a hard time spreading herself so thin and being able to work with children individually," says Grody.

If Your Child Is in a Large Class

There is a distinct possibility that you may find your child in a class with a roster that seems endless. Though frustrating, there are several ways that you can support your child's education in this situation.

1. Offer to help organize a group of parent volunteers to support instruction time allowing the teacher to meet with small groups or individual students.

2. Create a teacher wish list that parents can access to send in additional supplies throughout the year.

3. See if the teacher would be open to allowing a team of parents to help take over some of the menial tasks related to teaching that take away from valuable planning time such as doing book orders, making copies, or gathering materials.

4. If you feel that your child's class size is too large, speak up! Join the school council or sit in on school committee meetings to learn more about your local school budget and how it impacts class size. Armed with information, you will be better able to voice your opinion in a forum where decisions are being made.

5. Be an activist! Visit the website Reduce Class Size Now! (http://www.reduceclasssizenow.org/) to learn your state mandates for a teacher-to-pupil ratio. This website offers valuable resources for parents who seek to make a difference in the fight for small class size.

6. You may choose to take steps at home to enrich your child's education. Learn the specific benchmarks and objectives your child is supposed to reach by the end of the school year and then visit teacher supply stores to get materials that you can use to enhance your child's learning experience. If you don't feel comfortable playing teacher, find a tutor! Adding even one hour a week of uninterrupted one-to-one instruction can make a huge difference.

Though it is clear that class size does make a difference, your involvement as a parent is the best investment you can make in your child's education. Jump in, get involved, and work in partnership with the classroom teacher. You're all working toward the same goal: a positive and meaningful educational experience for all children.