MIXED-AGE OR MULTI-AGE GROUPING
SHEILA KING spoke of Multi-age classroom to DAN TRIPLETT on 01-03-97
SK>DT>  SK>What do you think of the multi-age classroom? I think I
SK>DT>  SK>recall you being in favor of that idea.
SK>DT>  I am!!   (he said butting in to another's conversation)
SK>OK, after several messages that I have seen posted on this topic,
SK>here in EDUCATOR and elsewhere, I begin to think there is a problem,
SK>much like we had in the Whole Language discussion, that we are not
SK>all meaning the same thing.
SK>So...Dan, define "multi-age classroom" and how would you see such a
SK>concept implemented in today's schools?
I haven't seen the other messages (or haven't paid attention) so I don't 
know how others have defined multi-age.  I don't think that a simple 
answer to your question would really define my idea of a multi-age room 
to the point where you would clearly understand my thinking.  Clearly, 
it is more than just putting two different grade levels together in the 
same room.  
I really don't want to get into a discussion similar to the one we had 
on Whole Language.  Suffice it to say that my reasoning for being in 
favor of a mulit-age class configuration in the schools has a lot to do 
with the idea that in any given single grade we have a wide range of 
developmental abilities.  Yet our current system has us using the same 
curriculum for each student in a given grade regardless of development 
and abilities.  And regardless of mastery, students are promoted year 
after year.  It seems to me that the current system is seriously flawed 
and that a more developmental approach is needed.  
Dan 
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