Shelley - Do you teach in a grade-free (true multi-age) or in a multi-grade setting?
Kare - multi-grade setting....grades 2 and 3...how about you?
Shelley - I teach K-9 in one room - very multi-grade.
Kare - I can't imagine having all those grade levels in one room!
Shelley - kare - it is a lot of work, but quite rewarding!
Kare - shelley, how many students do you have?
Shelley - K - 22
Shelley - 2 are special needs (low functioning)
Shelley - I am trying to learn how to set up more themes that are cross-curricular. It looks like a lot of work at the start .
Kare - I use a 2-year cycle, so I have 18 different themes that I use.
Shelley - kare - What are some of your themes?
Shelley - I have semi-developed a pioneer theme,& one on spring,
Kare - some of my themes are insects, fairy tales, changes ( water cycle & rain forest), color and sound
brinbrin - Kare why not trying some real life themes that children can relate to?
brinbrin - I get a lot of success with real world themes
Kare - brinbrin, my themes had to fit in what was required teaching in 2nd and 3rd grades, so our themes were based on scienc and social studies topics
Shelley - I like those themes. I guess I use those topics in various ways, so it wouldn't be too hard to put them together.
Kare - the area i struggle with the most is math
Shelley - b- what are some of you "real life" themes?
Shelley - The best tip I have had is to integrate the teaching of fractions with music. Next year, that is what I am going to do!!
snoochy - I have a 1,2,3 MA class. this will be the 9th year. we have a 3 year cycle. 3rd year is 7 continents, 2nd year is US history and western expansion Little House...and the 1st year is about our local area...central fla...citrus, pioneers in fla, freezes...attractions
Shelley - snoochy - is yours a true multi-age? (Not "graded")
snoochy - i prepare the more advanced projects and assignments, someone else does the middle groupings and one person does activities and materials for the beginners...i hesitate to call it 1st grade because they are learning in small groups and it is very heterogeneously developmental
snoochy - our reportcard is a rubric...each child is evaluated according to his abilities and goals that are set for him
Kare - snoochy, how many students do you have?
snoochy - nd 8 advanced
snoochy - shelly, if i can figure out how to do that...i'd be glad to. it was a real bear selling it to the parents.
snoochy - i had 26 students last year
snoochy - Kare, where are you from
Kare - I'm in Iowa.
Shelley - I use a rubric style report card also - it is based on the outcomes for each of the levels that I teach.
Kare - shelley and snoochy, what are some of the headings on your rubrics?
Shelley - Are you multi-grade settings by choice or by necessity (i.e. low population)?
Kare - necessity
snoochy - shelly, i'll have to get to school and get a copy and try to scan and attach it to you
snoochy - we are MA by choice and parent requests
Shelley - kare - not yet evident, beginning, developing, consistent, and above grade. I guess it is more of a checklist. Those headings are accross the top and the outcomes are listed down the side (i.e. prints letters in upper and lower case)
Shelley - sn- Thanks!!
Shelley - sn - That must ve very interresting. How many years has your school been multi?
Kare - we used to have 2 sections and 2nd and 2 sections of 3rd. Then a 2nd grade teacher retired, and the administration decided to put the 2 grade levels together. The teachers did have SOME input and wanted to try multiage as opposed to combination classes.
snoochy - progressing with assistance, progressing, progressing beyond expectation...they are only evaluated in Reading....Writing....and Math
Shelley - Kare - How does it differ? I would think that the teaching is essentially the same. Are the different outcomes for multi-age 8 years olds as opposed to multi-grade 8 year olds?
Shelley - we also have a section on our report card for social development (i.e. on task, manners, brings supplies)
snoochy - it is a difference in philosophy, more developmental
snoochy - we also have a section for learning habits or something like that
Kare - shelley, we viewed multiage as basically teaching 1 curriculum to the whole class. The combination classes had separate curriculums for 3ach grade level.
Shelley - When setting up your day, do you need to adhere to the "20 minute a day for Science, Social Studies, etc, or do you just base your day on the themes? (I am not saying that is a bad thing, just curious)
snoochy - themes...with all skills crossing over into the different areas and levels
Shelley - Kare - but don't you have different outcomes for the 2's and 3's? I guess in the system I grew up in that was the norm. We were all split classes, but all of us worked on the same work, other than spelling, reading and writing, and some math.
snoochy - we do group them by grade (with exceptions) for math
Shelley - snoochy - that is what I am striving for.
snoochy - they are responsible for the assignments and projects that the teacher and the parent and the student (mostly the teacher to be honest) feel is the most challenging and beneficial to the student
Shelley - I am working on a p.d committe to develop p.d. opportunities for multi-grade teachers. Many of the teachers in out focus group have more than three grades (I have K-9). Any suggestions?
Shelley - snoochy - do they have choices in the assignments they do? That sounds rewarding for the kids!
snoochy - we do have a Framework for learning with benchmarks that are addressed during the assignments
Kare - snoochy, what math program do you use?
snoochy - what is a p.d. shelly
Shelley - professional development (inservices and so on)
snoochy - Harcourt Brace Math Advantage....written for Florida and our state tests
Shelley - Do you have to do statistics and probability in math with your kids? It is a part of our newer curriculum
Kare - do you group your kids by grade level every day in math?
Shelley - more or less. I do the same topic whenever possible, but teach it starting at the basics - then send one group to work, and progress to where each level is at.
snoochy - probability and mean median and mode...it's totally ridiculous for 3rd graders
Shelley - yes. I agree.
Shelley - We don't start the 3-m's until 4, but it is still a tough concept for them!
snoochy - yes they have math everyday for hour and 15 minutes for 3rd, 1 hour for 2nd and 50 minutes for 1st...they have recess after math
snoochy - I think the easiest way to get started is to be sure that you are working with people who have the same philosophy
Kare - snoochy, what do the 2nd and 1st graders do while the 3rd graders are having math?
Shelley - With multi-age, do you have students that are able to skip a grade very often?
Kare - we've never had that happen, although 1 parent inquired about it last year
snoochy - we all start math at the same time...i teach 3rd, kathy teaches 2nd and carol teaches 1st...we just end at different times and when we end we go to recess and meet out there and then regroup for the rest of the day with our own class
Kare - i'm the only teacher in my room, but there are 3 sections of 2nd and 3rd grades
Shelley - snoochy - are all three leaders in your class teachers? That sound like a dream! I have to do it alone , with a para helping the special needs kids.
snoochy - the research says that they really don't progress any faster (but i think they do) but that they have a greater rating in school satisfaction and that there is a better attendance rate
snoochy - i have kids that work with material that is above grade level, more often we will let a child have more time in multi-age and the retention is not so obvious
Shelley - sn - after 3rd grade do they go back to a single grade classroom?
snoochy - there are 3 rooms in the multi-age program....each room has 1 techer with the 3 levels of students so we work together to gather assignments and materials
snoochy - they go to a traditional 4th...our 4th is heavily tested and our kids do great
snoochy - i teach them how to average grades and the last month of school we put letter grades on the 3rd grade math and try to average that into a report card grade so they have an idea of where the grade will come from
Kare - snoochy, do you give traditional grades...A, B, C, ....?
snoochy - no...we use a rubric
Kare - we use E, S, N, and U
snoochy - Kare good luck....the most important thing is to have someone to work with that wants to do it. I've taught 30 years and the last 9 in the MA 1,2,3 and it is my favorite. I enjoy seeing them really grow up in so many ways.
Kare - I just finished my 17th year of teaching, with the last 8 or 9 in MA2,3. I really like it.
snoochy - good luck....I hope to see you again and hear about your ideas....i hope they have another multi-age session and that even more people will participate...teaching is a great way to make a living...even though there are a lot of hassels, the bottom line is that it is rewarding and you know you have made a difference
Kare - thanks, I enjoyed visiting with you. HOpe to see you here again! :-)
snoochy - :-) to you too
Kare - goodnight
