[tia]

the largest number of classes we've had for sixth at our school is 3.

we've done the following groups (entire class rotated together):
science
math
social studies

social studies
math
language (just writing/grammar--no reading)


and then it's switched up a bit the years we've had only 2 classes/teachers.

right now we have 2 and i teach science/health while my partner teaches social studies. for math we use flexible grouping where we either pretest or look at state test scores to put them into about 4 groups at their ability level (for that UNIT only)

and for reading, they are ability grouped (using fluency test, state reading test, reading basal test, STAR test, and professional judgment) into about 7 groups where they've stayed for over 1/2 the year--we'll move a couple around next week.

i have never taught reading and language together--well, one or two years i had a huge block, but i really only taught either one or the other.

we have always loved the departmentalizing (we only didn't do it one year when we had completely new curriculum and wanted to feel that out). it gives us a chance to work really hard on that one subject and let our talents there shine and ignore a subject we don't like/aren't as good at. and less prep-work is great!

our parents always liked it--they felt it prepared students better for jr. high.

i think it would be difficult with 5 teachers because it's harder to be flexible then--with 2 or 3, one of us could say, i really need to cancel or shorten today because i want to....but with 5 you really need to respect the needs of everyone because it affects so many people and subjects.