Re: multiage classrooms in northern California

On 1/06/09, Debby wrote:
> I am looking for model multiage primary classrooms in
> northern California which my staff could visit. Coule you
> suggest some please?

Hello Debby -- I'm not in California, but I wanted to contact
you to find out why you all are interested in multiage primary
classrooms. The reason I'm interested: Our school has had
combination 1st/2nd grade classrooms since the late 1990s and
earlier this week our school council has been asked to decide
if we wish to keep this in place or go to straight classrooms.
As a result, I'm trying to research the pros and cons to both
approaches. My son is in 1st grade and our experiences have
been positive, however, the majority of the teachers wish to
go to staight classrooms and of the 40-50 parents I have
surveyed so far they want the same. The teachers have said the
children enter 3rd grade behind due to this approach and the
parents seem to be most concerned about the social mixing of
this group of kids. On the other side, the research I have
read the last two nights show great results for multiage
classrooms when the teachers understand the concept and know
how to teach multiage. I would appreciate any feedback you
have on this subject. Thanks, Pauline (Kentucky)