MULTIAGE 3-4

Mast Way School

OVERVIEW
Introduction What

is Multiage? Multiage Questions Overview

Common

Curriculum UA

Schedule method of Communication

Preferred Website NECAP

Testing (October 1-9) and Blogs

Websites Parent

Conferences

PHILOSOPHY

Every child can learn and has the right to do so at their own pace Learning is a continuum rather than a series of steps Diversity is not only a reality but is something to be embraced By purposefully structuring a class to include a span of ages we take advantage of the resulting diversity Atmosphere of nurturing Supporting each individual child as to their own complex set of needs

WHAT IS MULTIAGE EDUCATION?

Multiage classrooms include groups of students blended from two or more age levels Same teacher for two or more year. Multiage classrooms maximize the benefits and interaction among students of various ages. Teacher encourages students to help each other and to learn together. The classroom is child centered and theme-based, with integrated curricula.

Hands-on projects and experiences help to meet objectives.

Less time is spent each year getting to know the individual strengths of students -teachers and students jump right in. The focus on individual students helps special needs children know that they can fit

Challenges talented children Lets kids grow into responsibility over a two-year span.

Common Questions About Multiage

IS THE MULTIAGE CLASSROOM BETTER FOR SOME CHILDREN, BUT NOT FOR OTHERS?
A child-centered approach is good for all children. In the multiage classroom, children progress at their own pace, view themselves as successful, learn from their peers without competition, and have the opportunity to mentor.

WILL MY CHILD MISS OUT ON ANY OF THE 3RD OR 4TH GRADE UNITS?
No, your child will not miss out on any units of study in either 3rd or 4th grade.

We alternate science and social studies curriculum each year so that no child misses any units of study, special events or field trips.
2013-2014 4th Grade Curriculum
Science Electricity Social Studies NH Geography

2014-2015 3rd Grade Curriculum

Science Social Studies

Nature Walks
Matter Magnets Animal Classification

Community
Presidents/ Elections Countries Immigration

NH Animals
Light and Sound Rocks and Minerals Health

NH History
NH Government Famous NH Residents

Health
Force and Motion

U.S. Geography
Geography/Map Skills

DO WE SKIP CURRICULUM?
Absolutely NOT! Your third grader will get the third grade curriculum and your fourth grader will get the fourth grade curriculum. Differentiation will occur in order to meet the needs of each child. All curriculum is aligned with the New Hampshire State Standards and the Common Core.

WILL THE OLDER AND GIFTED STUDENTS BE CHALLENGED IN A MULTIAGE CLASSROOM?

Yes. A multiage classroom can be a challenging environment with many opportunities for advanced students. The multiage setting has a high ceiling on the curriculum to reflect the needs of the wide range of abilities. Social and emotional benefits are also apparent through mentoring and modeling, older children gain confidence and increase their self-esteem.

WILL THERE BE ANY ABILITY GROUPING IN THE CLASSROOMS?

Yes, grouping can occur in a multiage classroom. These groupings are flexible and based on tasks or learning objectives. Students can move in and out of these groups as their needs are met. Groups can be based on the students level of achievement on a specific concept or skill. They can also be formed based on interests, social needs or other criteria.

How are art, music and physical education accommodated?

Children attend their special classes together as a community; they are not separated by grade level.
McCormick Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Gym Gym Band Art Chorus Music Library Band Webb Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Library Art Band Gym Chorus Gym Music Band

WHAT ABOUT THE RECESS AND LUNCH SCHEDULE?

We set a recess/lunch schedule at the beginning of the school year. This schedule is followed. We do not arbitrarily choose when our students eat. We create the lunch/recess schedule so that our classes get to see their grade at least twice a week.
2012-2013 Lunch Schedule
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

12:40-1:30

12:15-1:05

12:40-1:30

12:15-1:05

12:40-1:30

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY CHILD GOES FROM

THE MULTIAGE CLASSROOM TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Experience has shown that children who are in multiage classrooms are confident learners and adapt quickly to same-age classrooms. They have had time to see themselves as competent learners in the multiage classroom and can therefore easily adjust to the single graded middle school.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Learning by Doing. We believe children learn best when they are actively engaged with their environment. Learning involves Collaboration. Collaboration between students and teachers and among the students themselves should occur frequently. Children will be given opportunities to work independently, in pairs and in small groups. When learning can be enhanced through collaboration, the children are encouraged to work together and support one another as learners. Students need to make Choices about their Learning. Our classrooms are structured in such a way that children have the opportunity to make some choices about their learning. When choices are part of the classroom environment children take responsibility for their work, invest more time and effort and are willing to revise and work harder to improve.

READING

Reading Our goal in teaching reading is for each child to love to read. Most children enjoy doing something in which they find success. We hope to encourage each child's love of reading by helping him/her to develop the requisite skills and by providing a variety of exciting, rich literature. Every child will read many times each day. We use a combination of direct reading strategy instruction, chapter books, picture books, journal responding, centers, computers, silent reading time, literature circles, individual studentteacher conferences, small and large group readings, and class lessons to teach reading. Reading skills are taught in large and small group settings and within individual conferences. Literature Theme Studies During the year we will be focusing on a variety of genre/theme units. As students learn the characteristics of each genre or theme they will be exposed to many different authors and their styles of writing. Each unit takes approximately one month and promotes critical and creative thinking skills as well as integration of other curriculum areas. The theme units we will work on this year will be nonfiction, myths, biographies, science fiction/fantasy. Literature Circles Literature circles are something that we began several years ago and have enjoyed doing each year. They are a form of a book discussion group. The children are clustered into groups of five based on their interest in a particular book. Each child has a specific job to focus on during each assigned reading.

WRITING

Writing Workshop Writing is taught using a multiple step process involving brainstorming, drafting, revising, proofreading, conferencing, and publishing. The children are encouraged to share their writing often. Sharing is done each day during conferences with teachers and peers and whole group sharing. It is through conferencing and sharing that the children develop as good confident writers. Throughout the year we will explore different kinds of writing and the styles of our favorite authors. The children will experiment with writing in their writers notebooks and within the daily writing workshop. Writing skills and the craft of writing are taught through small and large groups as well as individual conferences.

Writer's Notebook Each student in the class has a writer's notebook. The writer's notebook is a tool that all writers should have. It is a place for students to experiment with language and ideas. A place to collect their thoughts, observations, stories, poems, beginnings, endings, questions, dialogue, memories, lists, and anything that may inspire them. It is a place to store all these things for future exploration. Students will occasionally use their notebooks for quick-writes and other writing warm-up activities.

SPELLING
Children learn a great deal about spelling through reading, and writing provides the authentic purpose for learning about spelling. We also use the SOURCEBOOK for Teaching Spelling and Word Skills by Rebecca Sitton to teach skills in phonics, word origins, spelling rules, etc. This program focuses on learning the words that are most frequently found in writing. Your child will study words to learn each week that include up to 5 core words (based on the preview/pretest) and words that she or he misspelled in her or his writing.

MATH
Our goal in teaching math is to challenge, motivate and engage children in mathematical experiences. We want them to enjoy math and to see its importance in their world. By having students use manipulatives, computers, literature, the arts, and journals we hope to address each child's developmental level. Basic facts will be readdressed and mastery is the ultimate goal. Computation will be reviewed and expanded. Problem solving is an important part of our math program. The children will be working with many types of problem solving strategies and we will offer some fun, but challenging problem solving projects throughout the year. Expressing math ideas and processes in writing is also an essential part of our classroom. We will use a combination of whole group instruction, small focus groups, and individual student meetings. Sometimes students will work on math individually and other times cooperatively.

SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES

We use a thematic approach in much of our teaching. The themes mostly come from the science and social studies curriculum. We traditionally begin the year with a social studies theme such as mapping and New Hampshire. Research skills are an important part of our science and social studies teaching. During the year we teach the children a variety of research methods. We also integrate reading, language, the arts, and math into the units. The goal is to create a learning environment where the children are using all of their skills to find information and represent it in a clear way.

HOMEWORK
Each Friday we will send home a homework packet with all the work for the week. The completed packet is due back at school the following Thursday. Homework will include work from different subjects including math, spelling, vocabulary, language, and writing. Also included in the weekly packet will be a reading log. I have included Saturday and Sunday on the log in case your child chooses to read on those days. Students are expected to read for a minimum of 20 minutes four times a week. With their homework in a packet and the reading log attached they can do their homework whenever they choose during the week. We ask that you please read all assignments carefully so that you can support your child in their homework responsibilities. Although children need to practice some independence in completing their homework, I do encourage parent involvement in the following ways:

Proofreading any written assignment with your child and have them correct it. Have your child check over math work. It is reasonable to use a calculator to check larger computation problems.

Curriculum Overview Chart 2013-2014

September Math 3rd 4th
Unit 1 Routines and Assessment Unit 1 Geometry

October
Unit 2: Addition & Subtraction Unit 2 Data

November
Unit 3: Measurement Unit 3 Mult/Div & Algebra

December
Unit 4 Multiplication Unit 4 Decimals

January
Unit 5 Place Value Mid-Year Assessment Unit 5 Big Numbers

February
Unit 6 Geometry Unit 6 Division Angles

March
Unit 7 Multiplication and Division Unit 7 Fractions

April
Unit 8 Fractions Unit 8 Perimeter & Area

May
Unit 9 Multiplication/Di vision Challenges Unit 9 Fractions, Decimals, %

June
Unit 10 Measuremt Data End of Year Assessment Unit 10 Reflections & Symmetry

Reading

Benchmarks Setting Up Reading Workshop

Note and Notice Reading Journals

Focus on Characters

Nonfiction (all about)

Benchmarks Nonfiction (narrative)

Fantasy

Humor

Traditional Literature (tall tales, fables) Opinion Writing About Reading: Literary Essays

Literature Circles

Benchmarks Literature Circles

Writing

Routines Illustration Study

Narrative Realistic Fiction

Independent Fiction Projects

Opinion Personal Essays

Persuasive Essays

Informational Writing

Historical Research, Note taking, Writing

Compare & Contrast Essays

Shakespeare Projects

Science
Light and Sound Electricity Circuit Boards Rocks & Minerals Lamprey River Lamprey River

Social Studies Field Trips

NH facts, maps

NH Symbols

Colonial Life in NH

Colonial Life in NH

Famous NH People

NH Government

Geography

Great Bay Discovery Sept. 26

York Village Dec. 4 or 5

State House Historical Museum May 14

Newcastle 4th gr only picnic

Special Events

Nature walk/trails Set up blog School Garden Harvesting

Art for Water Art Project Oct. 24

Wax Museum

School Garden Planting

Shakespeare Play

OVERVIEW
Introduction What

is Multiage? Multiage Questions Overview

Common

Curriculum UA

Schedule method of Communication

Preferred Website NECAP

Testing (October 1-9) and Blogs

Websites Parent

Conferences

MULTIAGE 3-4
Mast Way School