This document outlines several principles for teaching multigrade classes: 1) Children are unique and learn at different speeds so teachers must understand each child's needs. 2) Children learn best through hands-on experiences rather than just books. 3) Children can learn from one another in mixed-aged groups by taking on roles like leader or follower. The teacher's role is to set up a supportive learning environment tailored to students' varied abilities and interests. Collaboration between teachers, students, and parents is important for achieving educational goals.

1. Principles
in
Teaching
Multigrade Classes

2. 1. Children Are Unique
• No two children are alike.
• They may be of similar interests, needs and
characteristics, but still they are different in many ways-
physically, emotionally, socially and even mentally.
• In a class of 30 with different age levels, they will be
reading at different speeds and comprehension levels.

3. 1. Children Are Unique
• They may have different personalities. Some
may be introverts, others may be extrovert,
some may be fast, and some may be slow.
• They may also have different likes and
dislikes, interests and needs. They will have
different life experiences and feelings about
themselves.

4. 1. Children Are Unique
• A multigrade teacher must be able to get to know
and understand each of the children so she can
prepare lessons that will respond and reflect their
individual needs.
• She is responsible for planning the daily activities
and keeping track of how each child is able to
learn.

5. 2. Children Learn Best From
Experience
• Although reading books, materials, memorizing
facts, and doing some paper-pencil test, is one
of the important things in learning development.
• Still, it is not enough to provide learning
experiences to the child.
• To stimulate their senses students should
explore their environment, experience doing
activities by their own hands, and interact with
people.

6. 3. Children can and do learn well
from one another
• Children learn well and better when they are
together. While it is true that there are things
that adults need to teach the children, there are
more things that they learn better when they are
in groups searching for answers to their
questions.
• For example, children can learn to be a leader
or a supportive follower, only if they have
opportunities to work with and try out these
different roles as they work in a group project.

7. 3. Children can and do learn well
from one another
• When children work in a group or even in pairs,
they learn to listen to others, to keep an open
mind and consider other opinions instead of
being limited to their own views.
• Mixed-aged grouping is an important asset in a
multigrade classroom. Children who already
have the necessary skills will be better able to
assist others who are only starting to learn.

8. 3. Children can and do learn well
from one another
• Children also learn the value of helping one
another not just in the learning process but also
in daily life.
• Then, they realize that there are others inside
the classroom who can teach them other than
the teacher.

9. 4. The role of teacher in a classroom
involves setting up and managing a
learning environment
• The role of the teacher does not limit to
teaching and sharing learning experiences to
the students only. They play a variety of roles
inside the classroom.
• One of these is tone the classroom atmosphere
and environment conducive to the child's
learning process, keep the class in control,
manage each of the child's behavior, and make
sure that they will learn and enjoy the class.

10. 4. The role of teacher in a classroom
involves setting up and managing a
learning environment
• Everything involved in the
teaching-learning process makes
up the learning environment.
• It includes the curriculum, the
instructional materials, the
children, the teacher and the
parents.

11. 5. The implementation of the school curriculum
must take into consideration the varied abilities,
levels and interests within particular group
• The implementation of the school
curriculum must take into
consideration the varied abilities,
levels, and interests within a particular
group.
• Each of the students has different and
individual needs. The school should
make sure that their individual needs,
interests, and those culturally diverse
should be considered.

12. 5. The implementation of the school curriculum
must take into consideration the varied abilities,
levels and interests within particular group
• Learning competences, budget of work, lesson plans provide the sense of direction for the
teachers.
• The teacher has to adjust them to the needs and interests of the children, and to their
capabilities and learning styles too.
• It is up to the teacher to tailor the curriculum to the specific group of children that he/she is
working with for the year.

13. 6. The value of any educational program will be
judged according to how well it can achieve the
goals of the program
• The school, the parent, and the teacher
should work together to help the child
learn in and outside of the classroom.
• Whether the child learns what the
program expects depends on how well
each of those will work together.
• The way that the school and classroom is
organized in order to achieve those goals
makes a great difference.

14. 6. The value of any educational program will be
judged according to how well it can achieve the
goals of the program
• The advantages of grouping children of different ages within one classroom should be
maximized to increase the chances of effective learning and enhance the quality of the
classroom as a learning environment.

15. 7. Inter – aging or the combination of children of
different ages is more respectful of the individual
needs of learners and reflects real-life
• Inside a multi-grade classroom, students
have different ages gaps and grade level.
• Each of them has a unique learning style.
• Each of them is capable as long as they are
given the right to be educated and meet
their needs.

16. The advantage of being in a heterogeneous group
like a multigrade class is that children who have
certain strengths and weaknesses can be helped
rather than be punished for their weakness, and
their strengths built-on rather than wasted.
Principles in Teaching
Multigrade Classes