Would you enroll your kid to a multi-grade classroom?
By jureathome
@jureathome (5361)
Philippines
May 9, 2012 12:35am CST
My daughter had a slightly negative experience in a multigrade class. What happened was, she got mixed to a classroom of kids taking summer classes that are between ages of 6 to 8 years old and only one teacher handling them. She was only 3, turning 4 in a month, and was the smallest in the group. She was separated from the group of kids her age because she was the only one who took that class. At first, she was rather happy and for a couple of weeks it didn't bother her. However, she started crying and pleading not to go to school anymore. It went on for about 5 days. Then, the head teacher decided to transfer her to another room with younger kids, around 2 to 3 years old. Her mood changed a lot. She, now, wants to go to school and I don't have to bribe her just to get her feet inside the classroom.
If only we've known earlier that she would be thrown to a multigrade classroom, we would have objected to it. But since she didn't really show any signs of dislike at the start of class, we didn't bother checking.
I think having a multigrade classroom won't be an issue if the teacher is trained well to handle such. In my daughter's case, I don't think the teacher was capable of the job at hand.
4 people like this
13 responses
@factorial (977)
• Philippines
9 May 12
I am a college teacher and I am not in favor of a multi-grade classroom. There is even a difficulty of imparting knowledge in a single-grade classroom, how much more in a multi-grade classroom?
To solve this problem hire more teachers and construct additional classrooms.
1 person likes this
@factorial (977)
• Philippines
9 May 12
By the way I am not in favor of the K+12 program.
1 person likes this
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
Taking it from a professional, it sure would be a tough job, especially in college, where students have their own mind.
They can only make this possible and beneficial if they provide good training for teachers that will be handling a mixed group.
Otherwise, they should take your advice - hire more teachers, make more classrooms.
1 person likes this
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
As a teacher? Why wouldn't you be in favor of the new program?
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
11 May 12
Wow, a 3 y/o with 8 y/o? That is a huge gap. My children's school tried this for two years, but the different in ages were only one year, not more and they had two teachers. I signed both my children up at the time, thinking that if they were younger, they can learn from the older one and if they were older, they could help the younger ones. I thought it was good because my fourth grade son was doing fifth grade math, not because he had to, but because he is smart and watched the older kids and just learned from them. Still, my son didn't like it, but my daughter loved it because she got her favorite teacher two years in a row..But then the school stopped it, so she couldn't take another multi-age class..
What I want to know is, with your child, why would she be put in a class with other kids so much older?
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
11 May 12
This is actually just a summer class for new students to pass requirements, and for current students who need to catch up on some subjects. We signed her up for the pre-writing skill class, because I don't find it easy for me to teach her, that, at home. But, the rest of the kids her age took up a different subject, which was pre-reading. She already knows letter sounds, and alphabet, so she doesn't really need to enroll in it. She was the only one taking up writing. I guess the teachers decided to place her in that mixed group because of teacher availability. I was also wondering why they did that, when there is a playgroup class, kids from 2-3 yrs old, in another room. They only transferred her there after 4 consecutive days of crying and losing interest in doing schoolwork.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
12 May 12
Oh, well that I guess is different, but I am happy to see they took action and placed your daughter in a better class..:)
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
12 May 12
I was actually going to request for that, but they beat me to it. Her experience would have been better, but, all I can hope is that she'd continue to like going to school once regular classes start in June.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157813)
• United States
10 May 12
It was not an appropriate age placement. She would have done fine all the time in a class of two to four or five year olds. The class she was in was just too old for her. I am surprised at them doing this.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
10 May 12
It really was not right for them to have done that. For a school and group of teachers who claim to be experts in early learning, they should have known better. Well, at least, it wasn't too late for them to change that experience for my daughter when they transferred her to another group of younger kids. She is much happier now.
1 person likes this
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
10 May 12
Yeah, I just thought of that now that you mentioned it. But, perhaps, teachers at those times were more used to the set up and they know how to manage a group with kids of different ages.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
10 May 12
Oh that is the reason why she was crying and does not want to go to school! In the first place the teachers should not have placed here there... their age differences is a great factor, even if the teacher herself is capable of handling them because the age 6-8 has different thinking that your 3 year old..
but then again atleast a lesson is learned right now and that your daughter is now happy 
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
10 May 12
Yeah, I think she got embarrassed that she was crying in front of the class..and a couple boys seem to be mocking her. She's happier now and its easier for me to send her away every morning. Today is 2nd to the last day in summer class, so I hope she'll end it well.
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
9 May 12
I am not experienced with this issue. But from the though I think children who can mingle and coope with different age group won't face much tension where as some children would be in a difficult situation to handle such groups. The better way is give the child to independently play with higher aged (2-3) age differnce can help them to cooperate. Also, I think once they are spend few days or nearly a month time, they will learn and adjust how to handle others. As long as they are young, they will easily pic up the group enviornment.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
My kid is generally shy, but she can get along well with older kids, like her cousins who are all older than her. I was really surprised about her recent behaviour in this class. I really believe the teacher has a big role in making a good environment in a mixed group of kids.
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
10 May 12
Yes,you are true. The teachers has a major role in shaping the young one's nature and character. In fact we have dance classes at home for children from the age group from 4 to 20 and we found to arrange the child aged 5 to coop with the age of 8 or 10. However, the way we train them is totally different and we have planned much suitable combinations by understanding the psychology of the children. If we plan nicely we can bring them to a better life.
Also, my wife go to child coaching centre where there are children from the age group of 4 to 10 and got about 80+ children. Practically it is very difficult to manage a group of so many children as many will cry, fight, and they will do whatever they want. The simple and practical method to get a child in hand is to bring their attention fully under our control and if we manage to get it, we can handle the child so easily.
1 person likes this
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
11 May 12
Wow, 80+ students in a class?! That's incredible. And, at that age, it could really get unruly. Well, your wife is doing a great job handling all these kids.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
11 May 12
I agree that the problem was the teacher and not the setting. I went to a country school that had four grades in each room with one teacher. Most of the time, each grade had 6 to 10 students. They were organized and taught efficiently. Sometimes the older kids would be allowed to help the younger ones and it was a good situation for everyone.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
9 May 12
I didn't start school until I was 5, because at that time there was no Kindergarten. I had to walk a 1 1/2 miles each way. There were nine grades taught in the classroom of 30 students. I enjoyed the multi-grade environment because the students were never bored. As soon as we finished our work we listened in to the lessons of the higher grades. Some of the brighter children were able to skip several years because of this, and I've always believed that kids in single grade classrooms were missing out!
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
Oh that's interesting. Perhaps, at that time, teachers are forced to properly handle kids of varying ages because that is the only option there is. Similarly, kids have to also adapt to the set up. Good thing it worked for you.
@dandan07 (1906)
• China
9 May 12
If being enroll in a a multi-grade class, the time for you getting class from teachers are less than common class, for the teacher have to take care of all the student in the classroom. It often happen in a area where young people can teacher are fewer than normal place. In the big city, it can not happen.
I think the only strong point is have chance to make friends who is much elder than you.
@marguicha (216234)
• Chile
9 May 12
I think that there are many factors to consider. OPne is the number of children in the classroom and their age and the other important factor is whether the teacher is specially trained for this harder joj. Your dughter would not have had so many problems if there was a couple of other children around her age. But if she was the only one that was so little, she must have felt a cast out
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
I really think so, too. I was able to see these kids once and for a few minutes of being with them, as I tried to pacify my little one, I can tell that she really won't be able to relate to whatever they're talking about. And, my girl is already very shy, plus the feeling of being out cast just makes it worse for her.
@me123party (487)
• United States
9 May 12
dear
if i had children which i dont i would not enroll them in a multi grade classroom because i think that single classrooms are better because the teacher can understand one grade better.For example the kids in the class that are like 9 wouldnt be treated like aa 7 year old.I would want my child to be treated by age level.
@tanzilynn (11)
• United States
9 May 12
I think in this instance, it would not be a good idea to put a child that is almost 4 with children who are already in school and quite a bit bigger than said child. Your daughter should have been with other children closer to her age, in my opinion. I would not want my children to be put in multi-grade classrooms, because 2 of my 5 children are ADHD and it is hard enough for them with children their own age, let alone older than they are and I also feel that it is easier for the teacher to deal with the children in his/her classroom when they are all the same age or on the same intellectual level and like to pretty much do the same things.
@jureathome (5361)
• Philippines
9 May 12
Kids with ADHD do need some special support and guidance from teachers and parents. I don't think regular classes would be beneficial for them.
What made my kid's experience worse, is that it was her first time to be in class, yet, I don't think she enjoyed it. Good thing, she was transferred to another group and I can really see a big change on her mood.
@audrey92 (20)
• United States
9 May 12
I would have a problem sending my child to a multigroup class. I think children should be in a classroom with all of the same age group.Not one class with ten kids all aging from 5 to 10. I think that would be a hard environment for kids to learn in. The teacher would have to teach 2 or 3 different lessons at one time.
