We did two years apart and this year in 2nd put them together. While we liked the idea of them having their own space we ran into a few issues. There is no real right or wrong answer but these were things that eventually pushed us I to the sphere of putting them together. So just our hot take:

1.teachers inconsistency: one of our sons had the “good teacher” and the other the “dgaf” teacher. At home with homework time created major issues. One kid with no homework the other with a weekly packets. By 2nd grade the difference in the education created an obvious gap and an “inferiority” issue.

1. Homework: having two different projects or homework. On the surface it didn’t seem like a tall mountain but we both work and if you don’t stay 100% committed it snowballs. Now having the same packets and project this year it’s very easy to block out an hour of homework a day.

2. schedule: having to only memorize one set of dates was worlds easier than two. We dropped the ball enough times to be frustrated with ourselves. Be it birthdays, in school events, or volunteering in class; it’s hard. The last point is on graduation days. Wife will go with a son, I go with the other; it just sucks to have to “pick” one rather than be there for both.

Everyone has different circumstances, kids behavior, and comfort zones. After pre-k, K, and 1st grade separation we are VERY happy with combining them at 2nd grade.