​We are proud to offer multi-grade instruction at our school.

The benefits of multi-grade instruction include: 

• Increased opportunities for learning to match individual student's pace. 
• The ability to provide more challenging and enrichment materials for students needing above grade-level instruction, without moving them into an "older" classroom. 
• The ability to provide remedial and reteaching opportunities for students working below grade level, without moving them into a "younger" classroom. 
• Continuous exposure to reteaching and pre-teaching. We encourage students to ''eavesdrop'' on instruction presented to  other groups. Students working above the presented instruction level benefit by review and increased understanding of the basics. Students working below the presented instruction level benefit by beginning to make connections between what they know and what will be coming. 
• Inter-student learning opportunities are increased, particularly in the arena of social skill development. Every teacher models and teaches social skills in the classroom, however in multi-grade classrooms students get more opportunity to practice modeling and observing pro-social behaviors. Older students can serve as models of behavior for younger students who are still learning social cues and behavior. 
• Students have more opportunities to participate in peer learning activities and peer mentor-ship. Students with more advanced understanding can have the opportunity to help students that are just starting their understanding. This strengthens the advanced student's understanding of the topic and aids the emerging student in developing their understanding. 
• Different is normal in the multi-grade classroom: students are different ages, have different learning strengths, and are studying a wider assortment of topics in the multi-grade classroom. This helps students build tolerance for differences and increases acceptance of other student's differences. 
• The increase in time with the same teacher can help students retain information better. Often learning is tied to experiences--having the same teacher for more than one year helps students remember what they learned before as they remember the time they spent with that teacher. 
• Teaching staff can develop better lesson, intervention, and enrichment plans as they have increased time and understanding of individual student's strengths, interests, and needs.
• Continuity of teaching, a student may have the same teacher for several years; this creates a sense of safety and increases social-emotional learning. 

Adapted from staff experiences, staff observations, and the research of: 
Song, R., Spradlin, T. E., & Plucker, J. A. (2009). , The Advantages and Disadvantages of Multiage Classrooms in the Era of NCLB Accountability. The Center for Evaluation & Education Policy Education Policy Brief, 7(1), winter 2009, 1-2. Retrieved April 23, 2019, from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED504569.pdf.