What is the value of multi-age classes?
Young children flourish more rapidly in classes that span 2 or 3 years. We find that since children stay with the same teacher for several years, the entire group enjoys the warmth and closeness of a “second family.” Teachers come to know students well, so they can use a child’s own interests to enrich curricula and provide alternate avenues for accomplishment and success. Multi-age grouping encourages older children to assist and mentor their younger classmates, while the younger ones look forward to moving on to the more challenging activities they see around them. Most importantly, the multi-age grouping allows children to master work at their own pace. Students move on to advanced topics as they are academically prepared for them, not simply when they reach a given age level.
