This study employed document analysis and qualitative interviews to explore the perceptions of different Bhutanese stakeholders about multi-grade teaching, which the Bhutanese Government identified as a strategy for achieving quality Universal Primary Education. The data from Ministry officials, teachers and student teachers were analyzed using…

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 author describes the formation of a self-contained interage class for gifted children in grades one to three. The curriculum was project- and interest-based, and an effort was made to involve other teachers and students, thus avoiding the charge of elitism. (CL)

Described is a nongraded, multi-aged program developed at John Campbell School in Selah, Washington. The program is intended to bridge the development gap between kindergarten and second grade. (SI)

Reports on a study of 10 primary grade teachers in four multi-age classrooms (formed in response to a Kentucky state mandate to implement non-graded, multi-age, primary programs for children ages 5-9). Examines what teachers did to make language arts instruction work, and their continuing efforts and struggles to meet the needs of a wide variety…

Investigates young children's developing understanding of three essential features of book language (i.e. autonomy, conventionality, unique grammar) in two curricular genres (i.e. narrative and expository) in a literature-based, multigrade (1st-3rd) classroom. Demonstrates emergent understanding of autonomy, limited familiarity with…

In Kentucky, nongraded primary education became a reality under the mandate of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) in 1990. Research has produced some anecdotal information on the degree to which schools have implemented the ungraded primary program, but there has been no research to link the implementation of the primary program to student…

How it works and its advantages in British primary schools; emphasis on the family grouping'', with older and younger students together and students staying with one teacher for several years. (SP)

Attempts to determine if classroom environment is different between single-grade and multigrade primary-school music classrooms. Findings suggest that children in multigrade classrooms are more satisfied, experience less friction, and perceive music class as less difficult than peers in single-grade classes. Discusses educational implications.…

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…

Investigates impact of a nongraded instructional organization on the reading/language development of 117 kindergarten through second graders--61 in 3 nongraded classrooms, 56 in 3 graded classrooms. Uses a pretest-posttest control group design. Indicates no significant differences between the groups on any measures. Suggests findings are important…

Discusses development and implementation of a writing workshop that combined prekindergarteners' language development with first graders' writing experiences. (BB)

This study evaluated the Primary Learning Communities (PLC) program, a non-graded kindergarten through second-grade alternative curriculum piloted in three Houston, Texas, elementary schools. The curriculum allows a multi-age mixing of students with ages between five and seven years in the same classroom. Approximately 600 students and 27 teachers…

Multigrade schooling is a strategy to increase the educational opportunities of children in situations where it is impractical to have one primary school teacher per grade because of the limited size of the student population. In a multigrade school, teachers manage two or more classes simultaneously. A single teacher may be responsible for all…

Although multiage grouping is part of a greater approach to change in education, classroom problems can result when the approach's rationale is not understood. Three precepts of vertical grouping concern heterogeneity of student groups, individualized materials and activities, and a caring learning community. Factors influencing successful…