In general, a multiage classroom contains
a mixed-age group of children who stay with the same teacher for
several years. The children, teacher, and parents become a unique
“family” of learners. The multiage classroom is designed to give every
child the opportunity to find success on his or her own path of growth. Children progress along a continuum of simple to more complex material.
The Rationale for Multi-Age
- Chronological age and mental age do not always correspond
- A child may excel in one curricular area and simultaneously have difficulty in another
- Children are able to work at different developmental levels without obvious remediation, thus avoiding social and emotional stigmas
- Students stay with their teacher for more than one year; thus, teachers get to know students well and provide for continuity in their learning, and children avoid the anxiety of adjusting to a new teacher annually
- Age and achievement differences are accepted as normal by children
- Multi-age arrangements lend themselves well to integrated curriculum, cooperative learning, and cross-age tutoring
- Instruction is individualized for each child so all children are challenged
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