Small Classes {What if They Are Not So Great?}

Recently, I read Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath- a book that studies how underdogs achieve. I enjoyed it, but was particularly struck by his chapter that focused on class size.

According to his collection of research, the relationship between class size and student achievement is actually an inverted U curve (below).  That in reality, classes that perform poorly are (most often) either too big, or too small.

So, there is a sweet spot - and that does not surprise me.  From my personal experience, the perfect class size is anywhere from 18 to 26 students.  Anything less, and it is challenging to create critical mass movements, especially when the class does not include many peers.  Happy students are the best students, so classes work better when students are surrounded by (and inspired by) their peer groups. Small classes make that very scenario less likely.  Of course, in classes that are larger than 26,  personal relationships are almost impossible to cultivate.

I am looking forward to (hopefully) teaching classes this upcoming year that are not tiny - but right in the sweet spot.