Multiage Grades 1, 2, 3

1
Multiage Grades 1, 2, 3

• Heather Anello
• Ann Marie Oliverio
• Rebecca Orsi
• Bobbi Sikoski
• Primary Education Center
• 2008

2
History of Multiage

• Began as one-room schoolhouses
• As the nations population grew, students were
  divided into grades according to their age - out
  of convenience (everyone could use the same
  curriculum and textbooks)

3
What is Multiage?

• A classroom is comprised of students of mixed
  ages. Children spend the entire three years with
  a team of teachers that is truly a family unit.
• It promotes unity, diversity and success through
  developmentally appropriate educational practices
  according to how children learn best.
• Multiage focuses on abilities not deficiencies,
  with an emphasis on differentiated learning.
• Environment provides for community building.

4
How Children Learn

• Children learn as a whole person
• They are active, not passive learners
• They learn through play, social interaction, and
  imitation

5

• How Children learn cont.
• Students learn and construct knowledge as a
  result of meaningful experiences
• Skills and concepts are developed and enhanced
  through child and teacher initiated activities

6
What does the educational research say about
Multiage classes?

• promotes positive emotional and social growth
  which enhances leadership qualities
• encourages team building and cooperative grouping
  for students and teachers
• students do as well on academic measurements as
  single grade students
• strong family involvement and commitment
• research also suggests that students in multiage
  settings were found to have
• Higher self-esteem
• Less anti-social behavior
• Better attitudes towards school

7
Our Research-Based Components for Instruction

• The Whole Child Mind, Body, Social, Emotional,
  and Academic Growth
• Brain-Based Learning,Choice Theory (5 basic
  needs), Multiple Intelligences, Differentiated
  Instruction, Cooperative Learning, Thematic Units
  of Instruction

8
How is it different from a single grade
classroom?

• Time - teachers really get to know a students
  needs over time.
• Curriculum for the Whole Child - Physical,
  social, emotional, and intellectual domains
• Allows for growth over time.the Elementary
  Curriculum is presented over a three year span
  and is reinforced systematically to allow for
  developmental differences

9
How does the teacher teach a three year span of
the curriculum?

• Instruction is made up of whole, interest,
  ability, and special need based groupings
• Groups are flexible and change as often needed
• Teaming - just as students work collaboratively,
  so do the teachers
• Curriculum in a cycle of instruction which
  eliminates teaching material that has already
  been covered
• Thematic Approach - helps to provide
  differentiated instruction and customized
  learning

10

Why Offer a Multiage Program at the Primary
Education Center?

• Choice-diversified grouping provides students
  with other ways to learn and grow
• Teachers choose to teach in a family unit
  co-teaching with other professionals who have
  similar philosophies in teaching practice

11
How does a student get into the multiage program ?

• Parent request
• Teacher request
• Student request

12
Common Concerns

• Noise Level
• Silence is not a pre-condition of learning.
  Many activities require the children to discuss
  their learning with their peers
• Movement Around the Classroom
• Movement around the classroom is encouraged, and
  indeed many activities require the students to
  move from one area to another. This type of
  environment promotes an activity based learning
  experience, which can accommodate all childrens
  learning styles.

13
Concerns continued

• Is there structure?
• Structure refers to the extent to which
  teachers develop an instructional plan, then
  organize the physical setting and social
  environment to support the achievement of
  education goals. (Spodeck, Saracho, and Davis,
  1991)
• Our students work towards instructional goals
  and can be active, but not unstructured. This
  overall environment creates a flexible,
  stimulating classroom.

14
Concerns cont.

• Are we preparing the students for the New York
  State Assessments?
• YES! While planning, we use our curriculum
  reference guides and the New York State Standards