Multiage classrooms

[Luv2trav]

My son is entering 1st grade next year and he has the opportunity to enter a multiage classroom for 1-2 graders. He will be with the same teachers for 2 years before moving on to another multiage class of 3-4 graders.

I have no opinions regarding this. Any feedback would be helpful.

 

[bumbershoot]

In 4th grade, I changed schools for one year to a one room schoolhouse. They had the K class in the library which had accordion doors, then 1-3 was on one side of the tall cubby wall, and 4-6 (and one 7th grader) grades were on the other side. My teacher was also the principal. There are many reasons for how great this school was (by the way, I *hated* school, I had awful teachers, I should have been homeschooled even if it were self-led, and I hope my own child never enters a school until college, so this is HUGE that I feel so positive towards this one year of schooling!!!), but I definitely feel that the class being mixed like that was one of the heaviest reasons I did so well that year. That year I tested at "13th" grade level reading and comprehension.

My brother was in 1st that year, so he was on the other side of the cubby, and he did really well too (he's brilliant so that wasn't all that difficult for him LOL).

So I think it can be a really good thing.


That said, the following year and the year after that was an example of how a 2 year plan can be bad! In 5th grade I went back to the elementary school I attended 1-3rd (and 5th and 6th). I'll admit that having been "away" for a year colored that year (everyone thought I'd moved cross-country b/c that was the plan before the summer, then plans changed but I was so shy I never called my friends that summer or during 4th grade or the summer before I went back for 5th grade...meanwhile my friend was telling everyone she got letters from me all the time, and had everyone writing to me at some address).

But there were a couple 5th graders who just pushed and pushed and pushed the teacher, and something like a month before summer, the teacher had a full-blown nervous breakdown in front of the class. So bad, so dramatic that we were talking about it this summer at my 20-year HS reunion. Big breakdown.

And then she came back for the following year, to teach 6th grade. And that year it was a 5/6 class, so the 6th graders were all a bit twitchy to have her back, and the 5th graders had heard the stories...

So if you have a bad teacher that one year, you've got the teacher for BOTH years, and that's not fun.



But if you have a good one then that's great! (it's just not my own experience apart from the one year)

 

[Msladybugzz]

I am a multiage teacher and I have seen both wonderful and horrid examples of this fabulous style of teaching. My suggestion would be to ask the potential teachers a few questions, such as the following. I, personally would be listening for keywords such as those I put in parnethesis.
Describe your program. (Developmentally appropriate, based on a cintinuum of learning)
How will the kids be instructed in Reading? (Guided Reading, Literacy Centers)
How are the children grouped for instruction? (flexible grouping based on ability and skill needs)
How will you enrich the high (again, flexible grouping and developmental continuum)
What is the difference between a multiage class and a combo class or split class? (MA is on a developmental continuum where kids stay together with the teacher for at least two years, a split or combo class is two grades, taught seperately by the same teacher -usually due to enrollment numbers and NOT by teacher choice)

Visit my classroom webpage if you want more info on Multiage - I have downloadable info if you want to research further! (teacherweb.com/ap/andersenelementary/cynthiamiller

HTH! Good luck!
Cindy

 

[GoinToDisney]

I am a multiage teacher and I have seen both wonderful and horrid examples of this fabulous style of teaching. My suggestion would be to ask the potential teachers a few questions, such as the following. I, personally would be listening for keywords such as those I put in parnethesis.
Describe your program. (Developmentally appropriate, based on a cintinuum of learning)
How will the kids be instructed in Reading? (Guided Reading, Literacy Centers)
How are the children grouped for instruction? (flexible grouping based on ability and skill needs)
How will you enrich the high (again, flexible grouping and developmental continuum)
What is the difference between a multiage class and a combo class or split class? (MA is on a developmental continuum where kids stay together with the teacher for at least two years, a split or combo class is two grades, taught seperately by the same teacher -usually due to enrollment numbers and NOT by teacher choice)

Visit my classroom webpage if you want more info on Multiage - I have downloadable info if you want to research further! (teacherweb.com/ap/andersenelementary/cynthiamiller

HTH! Good luck!
Cindy

This is excellent advice. I personally have not taught multiage, but I did loop with one class. I had them for K and first. That class did so well. I think it all depends on the teacher, though. I feel a really good teacher will teach children on their level. This is why you are looking for guided reading. I had first graders reading anywhere from first grade level to 4th+ grade level all in the same room. This is just how things are done in the school where I taught (I am a SAHM now), and I hope my child will receive the same type of instruction when she's in school. The real challenge is to do this with math too, but I also team taught (2 teachers, but double the # of kids), which made that a lot easier. We had 30 kids in that class versus only 15 in the other first grade classes (Isn't that awesome? I can't believe I gave up that job!), and those kids got so much one-on-one instruction because there were 2 teachers.

 

[Luv2trav]

There will be 2 teachers in each classroom. Great information!! Thank you so much.

 

[barkley]

both my kids have been in multiage classrooms since first grade. at their prior school it was 1st-3rd, 4th-8th and at their current it's 1st-4th, 5th-8th.

the benefits to a well run multiage classroom to the older student is that while they are learning new concepts they hear and observe the teacher instructing and guiding the younger students so there is reinforcement in the basic skills (realy great for the age your ds is). the younger students overhear/see a sampling of what their next step in learning is (and often informaly begin to master those skills before they receive that instruction the next years).

 

[tzolkin]

our school no longer does multi-age, but they do looping. there is only one teacher in the classroom, but the kids keep the same teacher and classmates for 2 years (1st/2nd and 3rd/4th). we thought it would be beneficial for our DD because in the second year there was no time needed for the teacher to get to know the kids and their learning styles. there was also the ability to "get ahead" at the end of the first year because they would just continue from where they left off. my DD also "skipped" a grade (she did 1st and 2nd in one year) so we thought the continuity would be good for her socially during 3rd/4th. at our school the kids also do change classes for reading and math. there are 3 teachers for each grade, so the kids are divided into 3 ability groups. so even though she is in the looping class, she does not stay with the same teacher and students all day.

oh, in light of PP's bad situation... we are given the option at the end of the year to continue the loop or to have the child put into another class the following year. so if there are any issues with the teacher or students the child is not "stuck" with them for 2 years. i would question that with the multiage class. would it be difficult to transition to another class if it did not work out well for the child? if you could meet with the teacher(s) in advance that would probably allow you to be more comfortable with making a decision.

 

[Luv2trav]

Thanks for all the advice and posting your website. I have been reading about it all morning and I think I am going to go this route. I think my son will thrive in this enviroment. As for the teacher concerns I am confident the teachers are excellent. I will be observering their classrooms.