What is a multi-age classroom?
The idea of multi-age classrooms is often connected with the one room classrooms common a century ago, where students across all grades learned together in one room. Multi-age classrooms today are used intentionally and not out of necessity due to a low number of students. There are other common features of multi-age classrooms:
While some research resists claims that it is a better way to educate elementary students, others take a stronger position. There was consensus on two main themes in our research:
In the literature we reviewed, there is consensus that multi-age classrooms don’t necessarily have a greater diversity of learners than single-age classrooms - a 7 and 9 year-old may have similar abilities and needs as two 9 year-olds.
The greatest benefit is the strength of the classroom community in multi-age classrooms. Not only is there a range of ages in these classrooms, but they also stay in the classroom for longer. This leads to stronger relationships and an ideal environment for a community of learning.
- They usually have students in two grades, but there may be more.
- They are most common in elementary schools, with some schools opting to begin the multi-age grouping in grade 1 or 2.
- Students work on their own grade level outcomes in Math and English Language Arts.
- In subjects such as Social Studies and Science, the class covers topics for one of the grades each year.
- Students stay in the class for two years, so about half the class is new each year.
While some research resists claims that it is a better way to educate elementary students, others take a stronger position. There was consensus on two main themes in our research:
- an acknowledgement that diversity is common in single-age classrooms too,
- and a focus on relationships.
In the literature we reviewed, there is consensus that multi-age classrooms don’t necessarily have a greater diversity of learners than single-age classrooms - a 7 and 9 year-old may have similar abilities and needs as two 9 year-olds.
The greatest benefit is the strength of the classroom community in multi-age classrooms. Not only is there a range of ages in these classrooms, but they also stay in the classroom for longer. This leads to stronger relationships and an ideal environment for a community of learning.
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