Queens Lutheran School
The Academy in Astoria
A Parents Guide to the Multiage Classroom
Principal:
Bettye J. Lee
Faculty and Staff:
Lower School Team: Deanna Gigler and Mark Busch
Upper School Team: Sherry Costanzo and Barbara Darden
Computer Lab: Jo Ann Raspantini
Social Studies: Mary McLaughlin
Art: Keith Hanson
Foreign Language: Janet Rosado
Music: Heddy Caussin
Secretary: Annmarie Fable
Bookkeeper: Nina Hunt
Queens Lutheran School is fortunate to have a strong
academic faculty all of whom have been teaching for over 20
years. Three of the teaching staff have been awarded
"Teacher of the Year" by the Lutheran Schools Association.
Parent
Participation
Having a partnership with our parents is essential to the
successful achievement of our students. We will strive to
keep you informed of your child's progress and welcome your
participation in the classroom whenever possible.
What
is multiage education?
A classroom is "multiage" when it is deliberately grouped
across age levels instead of chronological age. Children of
different ages (at least a two year span) and ability
levels are grouped together without dividing them into
groups that are designated by grade levels. Whenever
possible students remain in the same classroom with the
same teacher for two years.
How
can teachers effectively teach students of two different
grade levels?
Grade level expectations are set at the city and state
level in accordance with K-12 knowledge and performance
standards. Parents have a right to expect that their
children will get age appropriate curriculum meeting
certain standards. Very few children are "on grade level"
in everything they do, nor should this be expected. Most
children are above or below "grade level" in numerous
skills and abilities. For this reason in a multiage
classroom we look at your child's development along a
continuum - at one end is what we expect as student's begin
school and at the other end is independent mastery. In
between these two endpoints are many finite steps through
which students progress as they learn and gain experience.
To assist your child on his/her development along a
continuum, we consider exactly what your child can do, what
your child has done in the past and what you child needs to
do in order to perform successfully at the next level on
the continuum. As we identify where your child fits on the
continuum, we can teach exactly to his/her needs. This is
the heart of personalized learning and individual
instruction. A student's readiness and performance has more
bearing on what he/she is taught than on his/her grade
level.
Will
my child receive curriculum appropriate for his/her grade
level?
Whether in a single grade of a multigrade setting, your
child will receive a "grade appropriate" curriculum,
although it may look differently than it has in the past.
Teachers begin each year knowing what their students must
know and be able to do before they move to the next grade.
With that said, teachers have the freedom to prepare their
students using whatever instructional methods they find
effective.
Each teacher naturally approaches the year differently,
even when teaching the same grade level, because each have
different styles, and more importantly, different students.
As mentioned before most learning can be measured along a
continuum of development. This is especially true for
reading, writing and math - three areas in which concepts
are similar at different grade levels and instruction
involves extending what has been previously learned. Much
learning in science and social studies can be viewed in the
same way. Many processes and skills extend across "grade
levels" and represent what scientist and social scientists
do outside the context of schools (i.e. scientific method,
historical inquiry, research process).
What
are the benefits of a multiage
classroom?
A single learning community
Diversity is celebrated and seen as an asset
Child centered
Cooperative learning groups
Positive self esteem
Multiple Intelligences
Developmentally appropriate practices
Independent responsibility