Attempts to find a middle ground between the extremes of direct instruction and discovery learning by creating a process that helps young children acquire beginning writing and spelling skills without the "drudgery" associated with drill and practice and the anxiety associated with spelling quizzes. Describes the "Share and Compare" process that…

A teacher gives insight into the benefits of teaching a combination class. Students of different levels learn to think of themselves as multilevel people, sometimes helping their peers, other times receiving help. Suggestions for planning for two different levels are offered. (DF)

Describes the author's experience as a student teacher teaching a drama class composed of students from grades 9, 10, and 11, all working at different levels of experience and expertise. Details challenges he faced as well as successes and failures. Offers comments from a veteran theater educator and suggests supplemental reading, activities, and…

Different aspects of multi-level foreign language classes, where two or more levels of foreign language are taught within a single class period, are discussed. The proliferation of multi-level classes has been brought about by a variety of factors that present a difficult instructional assignment to the foreign language staff. The roles of the…

Contains contributions from five educators concerning the following topics: (1) the "Super Sounder" system of presenting phonics instruction to beginning readers, (2) teaching vocabulary in a multigrade classroom, (3) language experience and basal readers, (4) pacing as a key to successful drill work, and (5) creative ways to encourage reading.…

Presents strategies for planning lessons for home-schoolers, science circuses, and summer science programs with multi-age groups of children. Suggests a spiraling curriculum centered on big ideas and varying a common activity in mixed-ability classrooms. Includes examples of activities for multi-age groups. (KHR)

This handbook presents materials designed to assist teachers in meeting the needs of primary school children in multi-graded classrooms. The handbook is divided into two parts. The first part consists of the following sections: (1) the multi-graded school; (2) strategies for multi-graded classrooms; (3) oracy--listening and speaking; (4) language…

Describes a teacher's experiences in a multigrade intermediate grade mountain schoolhouse. Notes that teaching difficulties were overcome by (1) organizing time and contracting with students; (2) learning from students about what to teach; and (3) using language that invites and includes students. Explains how these techniques aid reading and…

This paper includes a discussion of the problem of multilevel Latin classes, a description of various techniques and perspectives the teacher might use in dealing with these classes, and copies of materials and exercises that have proved useful in multilevel classes. Because the reasons for the existence of such classes are varied, it is suggested…

Multiage classrooms are an increasingly popular way to restructure schools. To be successful, multiage classrooms must shift their focus from teaching curriculum to teaching children. Strategies recommended for making multiage teaching successful include a process approach to learning, facilitation by the teacher, an integrated curriculum,…

This training guide provides guidelines and sample strategies for using the 1989 publication, "The Multigrade Resource Handbook," in a variety of professional settings ranging from teacher training programs to school and district inservice. This guide has been developed primarily for preservice teacher educators working with prospective…

In this collection, nine master teachers with extensive experience in small, rural Alaska schools describe classroom management techniques that have proven effective in their multigraded classrooms. Over half the document consists of one paper, the last in the volume, entitled "More like a School Family than Just a Teacher and His or Her…

This handbook was written to review current research on multigrade instruction, to identify key issues faced by multigrade classroom teachers, and to offer novice teachers a set of resource guides for improving instructional quality. The first chapter reviews previous research on multigrade instruction. It addresses questions regarding the effect…

In Saskatchewan, a growing number of schools contain split-grade or multi-grade classrooms. This resource is designed to help teachers develop a vision of how successful teaching and learning can occur in multi-level classrooms. It provides teachers with practical applications that support an environment that is learner-centered. The first four…

Written for use in small primary schools where children of varying ages and abilities are under the guidance of one teacher and where art is frequently neglected because of teacher workloads, these lessons form a comprehensive art program. The curriculum is divided into five categories according to medium: painting and drawing, modelling, collage…