Multi-Age Classroom

[danielle03]

I recently got a job as a teacher at a private school, but the catch is that it is a multi-age class, meaning that I have grades 1-5 in the SAME room!!! I'm not really nervous about it, I am actually looking forward to the experience, but does anyone have any tips or tricks on teaching in a multi-age class? Thanks.

[DaisyGurl22]

Hey I'm in the same boat-- I have K-8th in one classroom but the biggest thing is planning your time out-- i'm a first year teacher so any tips please share?!

[Boxcar]

Wow! And I thought 3s, 4s, and 5s was challenging!!!

[teacherchic1968]

I am doing a 1st/2nd split and not sure where to begin. Any help at all would be great.

[ms.jodi]

Not sure this will help but.....

I have 5th through 8th grade. I try to take a theme that brings us all together before I branch them out separately. Like in math, I may teach that finding perimeter means adding all the sides together but then give every level different numbers (ie: someone may only be able to add basic facts while someone else may be learning to add decimals) I will also introduce a topic like China and then have different leveled readers. One suggestion I can make is if your state has standards or grade level expectations, check them out and see where they are similar. You'll find many are the same with a slight degree more of difficulty as they get older.

[NewTeach]

I also teach grades 1-5, and they are all on different learning levels, but all special ed students. I do things like Ms. Jodi, but on lower levels. We work primarily individually on learning goals, and come together to cook and for calendar time. I assign paraprofessionals to work with students and in order to get a lunch break, I schedule like crazy. Each student has something he/she should be doing at all times, and it's up to the para's to keep the students on track. That way if I have to step out for lunch or a meeting things don't fall apart while I am gone. I wouldn't worry if all of your students are doing the same thing or not...most 5th graders would think it's weird if a 1st grader is learning the same thing as them. And they will get used to getting different assignments, and won't notice that your room is different from others. Good luck!

[mercygate]

Too bad the Amish don't use the Internet. All their schools are K-8 in one room. Makes for a lot of reinforcement when the older kids have to hear the times tables in sing-song every single year. I believe they use a lot of student-mentoring as well.

You could partner your older ones with younger ones -- I hear that gives the big kids a huge sense of responsibility for the little guys and spills over into a sense of big-brother or big-sister protectiveness when the small ones are being picked on at recess.

[kmurphey]

Gosh, I think that would be very difficult given the wide difference in subject matter needed to be covered within those early grades. Makes me think of Little House on the Prairie.