Multiage Education

Multiage Education Presented to the Board of Education for Oak Park School District #97 February 14th, 2007 Multiage Program Presentation

With much help, support, and resources from: Annie Darley Whittier School Yvonne DeCarlo Whittier School Kerri Druckmiller Whittier School Julie Dunn Whittier School Alex Fotopoulos Mann School Cathy Hamilton Lincoln School Principal Nancy Hoehne Whittier School Virginia Ilich Mann School David Krauter Whittier School Allison Lamb Mann School Evette Little Whittier School Kristine Mrozek Lincoln School Sondra Nelson Whittier School Wendy Kassel Whittier School LaurieVolz Whittier School Danielle McDaniels Whittier School Nancy McGurn Whittier School Kristi Seefeld Mann School Nicholas Sakellaris Irving School Jasmine Reeves Whittier School Arnetta Thompson Lincoln School Jarvia Thomas Lincoln School Kathy Wiedow Lincoln School Beverly Winterstein Whittier School Carol Young, Whittier School Principal Presenters and Contributors Multiage Program Presentation

Table of Contents • Multiage Defined: Philosophy and Components • Why Multiage? • Educational Models Compared • Research Results and Data • Current State in Oak Park • A History of Multiage in Oak Park • Perspectives • Conclusion Multiage Program Presentation

Philosophy The purpose of creating a diverse classroom community is to provide more effective instruction for all students in the program, to enhance the social skills of its participants, and to accelerate cognitive development. In a multiage classroom, the individual needs and characteristics of students are considered a vital element in the design of instruction. Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage: Defined • Grouping of students of different ages, grade levels, and ability levelsChild centered • Developmentally appropriate • Inclusive • Differentiated • Safe environment for academic risk taking • Fluid groupings Multiage Program Presentation

How multiage functions in the classroom • Team teaching • Relationships between parents, students, teachers • Various groupings of students “Once the environment is developed, this then fosters an acceptance of others that could not have been replicated in a traditional single grade classroom. These experiences have prepared my children for future classroom and adult experiences in a diverse population.” Seth and Caroline Baker, Whittier Parents Multiage Program Presentation

How multiage functions in the classroom • Differentiation • All science and social studies units for every grade level taught by cycling through curricula • Family and community involvement movie Multiage Program Presentation

Jim Grant, founder and Executive Director of the society for Developmental Education Multiage Program Presentation

Why Multiage? • The school fits the child • Efficient and effective learning environment • Process approach has long term benefits • Encourages friendships and peer learning "The challenge of having to use his social skills and language to collaborate with other students has truly helped him with friends, inside the classroom and out in the neighborhood. For a child with autism, this is a wonderful thing to see.” Multiage Program Presentation

Why Multiage? “Because multiage facilitates children working together, I have seen (my child) begin to demonstrate leadership skills. He is, in his own way, mentoring other first year students.” David Love Whittier Parent • Promotes cooperation and collaboration • Accommodates diversity and inclusiveness • Encourages academic eavesdropping • Gift of time: a continuum of academic relationships with teachers and support staff Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage is Differentiation Students in multiage classes: • Learn to take responsibility for their learning at all levels • Are encouraged to set goals and challenges for themselves • Are not held back by prescribed grade level curriculum • Have opportunities to interact with older and more experienced students “By creating a framework that not only recognizes but builds on the different stages children go through, we believe that a multiage classroom encourages greater openness in the appraisal of children’s abilities, and a more deeply rooted experience.” Emily Hauser and Eran Loewenthal, Whittier Parents Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage is Differentiation Students in multiage classes: • Have opportunities for leadership and mentoring when they are older students in class • Demonstrate positive self concept and self esteem along with positive attitudes • Have fluid opportunities to explore, discover, and invent • Have freedom to explore interests movie Multiage Program Presentation

Educational Models Compared Multiage Program Presentation

Research • Relationship with the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute of Psychology since 1997 • Results suggested cognitive, academic, and social gains Multiage Program Presentation

Research Cognitive development: • MAP (Multiage Program) students progressed through cognitive stages of development at a faster rate. • MAP students have a better understanding of reality. • MAP students coordinate multiple perspectives in their thinking. “We had a great multiage experience. Aaron (Marks) says it helped him get to know kids in another age group. I also think the greatest benefit was social … They learned how to cooperate and they learned that learning from each other was a positive experience not a reason to feel bad about yourself.” Dr. Emily A. Keshner, Former Mann Parent Multiage Program Presentation

Research Social development: • MAP students are less egocentric than their peers. • MAP children with low levels of peer acceptance during their first year in MAP made dramatic improvements with social acceptance in their second year. • MAP students with low levels of peer acceptance all finished the program with average levels of peer acceptance, leaving "at risk" labels behind. • In traditional settings, children with low peer acceptance carry the same level of acceptance throughout school years. Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage Program Presentation

Current state Multiage Programs are currently in place at: • Lincoln School - MAP 1/2 and MAP 4/5 • Mann School- MAP 1/2 and MAP 4/5 • Irving School - MAP 4/5 • Whittier School - • four MAP K/1 • three MAP K/1/2 • two MAP 2/3 • five MAP 4/5 Multiage Program Presentation

In the Future… • Longfellow plans to have a 2/3 multiage team for the 2007-08 school year • Beye will continue their primary looping program in 1st and 2nd grade • Holmes is exploring a looping configuration for the 2007-08 school year. Multiage Program Presentation

Administrative Considerations • No additional teachers are needed to staff a multiage program in grades 1-5 since the student-teacher ratio is the same as a graded class • Cost saving does occur due to flexible groupings • Principals have more choices to place new students, often eliminating the hiring of teaching assistants due to class size increasing through the year • As new classes are formed, budget for teacher workshops, observation, and materials • Support of multiage teachers and single grade teachers Multiage Program Presentation

Perspectives In my work as a university director of field experience, I seek out excellent placements for my student teachers. There are many outstanding teachers in both graded and multiage classroom, but when I have an opportunity to place a student teacher in a multiage classroom, I jump at the chance! Because of my own experience as a multiage teacher, I am confident that each student teacher placed in a multiage setting will: • Work collaboratively as a member of a professional team, • Plan instruction based on results of effective assessment, • Learn the value of flexible grouping techniques, • Learn to connect the pieces of the curriculum together, • Observe the modeling that is evident in a multiage classroom, and • Observe how long term relationships between teachers and families can be extremely beneficial for all concerned. Mary Rhoton University Director of Field Experience Multiage Program Presentation

Perspectives "One of the best aspects of the multiage classroom is the community atmosphere that results from the collaboration between parents and teachers over several years. The multiage classroom is a comfortable environment for learning. There is a natural progression over time and the children are able to build long-standing relationships .” A Whittier Parent Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage is Life Multiage Program Presentation

Thanks to… Kerri Druckmiller Whittier School Cathy Hamilton Lincoln School Principal Virginia Ilich Mann School David Krauter Whittier School Kristine Mrozek Lincoln School Sondra Nelson Whittier School Jasmine Reeves Whittier School Arnetta Thompson Lincoln School Jarvia Thomas Lincoln School Kathy Wiedow Lincoln School Beverly Winterstein Whittier School Carol Young, Whittier School Principal This presentation is the property of District 97. Permission to use or alter this presentation must be approved by the administration of the District Office for the Oak Park Public School System. Multiage Program Presentation

Multiage Education