My Catholic school has a small enrollment, with hopes to grow. In the meantime, we're thinking about the possiblity of multiage classrooms. Any suggestions where to go for help with this? Any good books to read? We're wondering about curriculum. We're K-8. We've combined some classes, but still keep the graded idea. I personally would love to get away from that. Any help?
I have taught at schools with multi-age classrooms over the past five years. Combining two grades works great. The older kids get to listen in on review lessons and the younger kids get enrichment. Certain subjects such as Religion, Art, PE, Music, Social Studies, Science, and Health can be taught as one lesson. Just alternate the grade level every other year. I do not recommend combining three grades in one room unless more subject areas are going to be combined. I have seen a teacher do this (while trying to teach each subject separately) and fail (she had 30 years exp. with two grades). A Beka works great for the combined room curric. Everything is there for the teacher with mimimal prep. You may find it to contain Reformed theology, but it is easier to deal with than most secular sources.
God bless,
On 3/16/07, Patti wrote:
> My Catholic school has a small enrollment, with hopes to > grow. In the meantime, we're thinking about the > possiblity of multiage classrooms. Any suggestions where > to go for help with this? Any good books to read? We're > wondering about curriculum. We're K-8. We've combined > some classes, but still keep the graded idea. I > personally would love to get away from that. Any help?
I went to a Montessori Middle school, and 6-7-8th grade were in one room, with 28 students. I think you should be able to do a 5-6 class and a 7-8 class or mix all middle school kids together. My guess is social conflicts, boyfriend/ girlfriend stuff and the small peer group would be the biggest problem (and least expected problem) you will face.
As for curriculum, I believe that at my school, we had math groups based either on grade or ablility. Otherwise, I recall everything was together. As an eighth grader, I think I may have had a vocaubulary workbook that was seperate from the 6th and 7th as well. We always knew who was in what grade. For example, if you were writing a report, the requirements were different in different grades, but the process was taught to the whole group. We did a class play each year, had science taught by a parent who was a physicst, and went on field trips and overnights at least twice a year, to a national park, and then to Washington DC or someplace educational.
There was a math teacher, a LA teacher and the science teacher (parent.) Though, now that I think about it, there was one other teacher, but I don't know what she did! We did art, PE and music with the teachers who taught to the rest of the school. I think you should move from the graded idea and loop instead.
If you have a 2-3 class, the 2nd graders stay as 3rd and then you get 1st as your new 2nd. Do the 3rd grade curriculum one year, the 2nd the next, at least in terms of science and social studies. Reading and math should be grouped according to need, regardless of grade.
You could either have seperate k class, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 or k-1, 2-3, 4-5, 6-7-8.
On 3/16/07, Patti wrote: > My Catholic school has a small enrollment, with hopes to > grow. In the meantime, we're thinking about the > possiblity of multiage classrooms. Any suggestions where > to go for help with this? Any good books to read? We're > wondering about curriculum. We're K-8. We've combined > some classes, but still keep the graded idea. I > personally would love to get away from that. Any help?
I have taught at schools with multi-age classrooms over the
past five years. Combining two grades works great. The
older kids get to listen in on review lessons and the younger
kids get enrichment. Certain subjects such as Religion, Art,
PE, Music, Social Studies, Science, and Health can be taught
as one...See More