How Well Do The Children In The Higher Of The Two Grades Learn In A Multi-Age Classroom Which Incorporates A Younger Grade? Do The Older Children Simply Repeat Many Of Their Lessons?
Children rarely master skills the first time they learn them, at least not often well enough to apply them and remember them over the long term. While teachers rarely repeat the same thing, in the same way, year to year, there is some benefit to children being exposed to what they will learn in the next year. Similarly, some lessons bear repeated exposure. There is much research to support a preview/review approach. Our curriculum is easily structured for differentiation, enrichment or deeper study. With close parent-teacher collaboration, lessons can be enriched and extended even more readily. However, many weekly lessons are geared toward the grade level in smaller groups. The teaching teams often switch to accommodate grade level instruction. Students also learn best with teachers who know them, and enjoy the chance to mentor the newcomers to the class. Open Classroom students who have remained in the program until middle school frequently tell us they felt very prepared for the rig
