Separate Classes or the Same? One Twin Moms Experience-

Told By: Toby Amir Fox-Toby resides in Phoenix, Arizona where she attempts to juggle a husband, three kids, a dog and a full-time job as a fund development officer without losing her sanity.

“The first time someone mentioned separating my twins in school they were 21 months old and preparing to enter a Two’s classroom.

Hannah and Abbie have been attending daycare/preschool since they were 13 weeks old and my husband and I had always planned on separating them in school at some point. In the long-run, we felt that separating would be in their best interest, but envisioned doing it when they were older and entering elementary school.  So when then teacher mentioned separating the girls as they prepared to transition into a Two’s classroom I was vehemently opposed to the idea. My twins had ALWAYS fought relentlessly over anything and everything. I used to tell people that after 8 ½ months in the womb they were ready for a trial separation. But their behavior was also age-appropriate, and I felt that the school was pushing separation because it was easier to separate the girls than deal with the problem itself. As I said to one teacher, “if my kids weren’t twins you would never have suggested putting them in different classes. You would have simply managed the situation differently.”

Never did I imagine that they would consciously choose to separate from each other.

10 Things Teachers Need to Know About the Twins in Their Classrooms

This fall, my twins will take honors biology. Together. They’ll also take honors geometry. Together. If we had our preference, they’d be in separate classes but since their school is small, it only offers one honors class per subject so we’re stuck. But they won’t be the only multiples in those classes–another pair of twins will be there as well a set of triplets, too!

Oh, boy. Those poor teachers.

As a record-breaking number of twins reach school age this fall, more and more teachers are finding at least one pair of twins in their classrooms (and often triplets and quads). For some, this is their first experience in dealing with multiples. But even if a teacher is a seasoned pro, there are some general Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to multiples sharing a classroom.

1. Just because twins are together in the classroom doesn’t mean they always want to be together. Many twins take comfort in just knowing that their cotwin is around so it’s not necessary to always pair them together on joint or group projects. In fact, many twins prefer to work with someone other than their cotwin. Working independently of a cotwin not only helps each to learn and develop at his or her own pace but it will also help you differentiate between the two.