Below is an excerpt from a former teacher, Russell Yates, who has vast experience in a multiage classroom. I think his description of the multiage concept aligns with my own views and educational philosophy on the subject.
-
Allows for flexibility in the grouping of children according to need, ability, or interest; not just by age.
-
Problems associated with a yearly transition from one grade to another can be overcome. The teacher has a nucleus of children, trained in the details of the class organization who keep it going while newcomers absorb it.
-
As the student-teacher-parent relationship develops over a longer period of time, students will receive greater support for their success in school.
-
A more natural learning situation is established. Children work at their own pace. Their program is not geared to the work of a single year but can be adjusted over two or more years.
-
Benefits come to the older children from the quality of leadership and responsibility they develop.
-
Young children are stimulated intellectually by older children.
-
Children have a broader social experience with increased opportunities to lead and to follow, to collaborate and to make stable peer relationships.
It is our goal to use instructional strategies that:
- Change the teacher's role to facilitator rather than the source of knowledge.
- Produce cooperation.
- Allow students to learn from each other through peer tutoring.
- Give students responsibility and independence in both learning and behavior.
- Build understanding of action-consequence relationship.
- Provide choice to the student in different areas of learning that will reflect learning-style differences.
- Allow continuous learning through the use of learning centers, small group instruction, and individual pacing.
- Involve parents in classroom activities.
- Encourage student responsibility and ownership of the learning environment.
- Teach goal-setting from an early age.
- Build leadership skills in all students.
Team Teaching
- Allows for greater flexibility in grouping and instruction.
- Gives students a variety of approaches.
- Models collaboration.
- Allows for greater observation of students in order to better meet their needs.
Reference: Yates, R. (2004). Retrieved August 29, 2006 from multiage-education.com
