In this study, teachers from primary schools in a rural district of New South Wales were surveyed about their views on non-compliant behaviour, its frequency in the classroom and its effect on classroom management. Teachers generally agreed on definitions of moderate to serious non-compliant behaviours but some teachers rated minor non-compliant…

India is home to 1652 languages, but only 22 are officially recognized. And while the Constitution requires local authorities to provide mother tongue instruction in schools (Article 350A, Constitution of India), a mere 43 languages are used nationally as instructional medium. An exploding demand for English-medium schooling across socio-economic…

This paper reviews multigrade schooling in Turkey, with an emphasis on its status in the education system, as well as the curriculum practices, teacher training and problems associated with it. It is viewed by the State as an "inevitable" practice that arises through limited number of pupils and classrooms in small and scattered…

Postdevelopmental perspectives in early childhood education and care increasingly reference alternative ways of understanding learning, growth and development in early learning. Drawing on these ideas, this paper examines research findings which focused on early childhood teachers' understandings of multiage grouping. The findings suggested that…

Multigrade teaching and learning--where a teacher is responsible for learners in two or more curriculum grades at the same time--is a frequent occurrence in small schools worldwide. These schools are particularly common in low income countries and in rural areas, making the provision of quality multigrade teaching and learning in them key to…

The quality of instruction may be similar in both traditional/graded and innovative/nongraded classrooms. This essay discusses the results of instruction observed in several nongraded (of varying degrees) Swedish schools serving grades 7-9. A multigraded organization requires more planning by teachers for individualization of instruction, and…

Research shows that educational outcomes are no different for pupils in single-grade and multigrade classes. However, little is known about the instructional practices of multigrade teachers. What is known suggests that multigrade teachers tend to employ instructional practices that are not likely to facilitate effective teaching and learning. The…

Colombia's rural "escuelas nuevas" feature multigrade classrooms, flexible promotion, rural-oriented curriculum, parent and community involvement, mastery learning, peer instruction, and library resources. A study of over 3,000 students found that, compared to traditional schools, Escuela Nueva schools had lower dropout probabilities,…

Multigrade schools, which combine students of different ages and abilities in one classroom under one teacher's direction, are supported by numerous World Bank projects. This paper aims to increase staff awareness of the complexity of such components and their economic and pedagogical benefits. Pedagogical techniques and outcomes form the core of…

An Australian preservice teacher education course used interactive television to present real-life, rural teaching situations as examples of best practice. These were integrated with problem-based learning scenarios focusing on dilemmas faced by practicing teachers in multigraded rural classrooms. Evaluation revealed positive feedback from both…