The challenges of multigrade teaching

The Challenges of Multigrade Teaching
By: Richlyn F. Vicente, BEEd – GenSci, MAED – GenEd, Ph. D. Ed.
Why Multigrade classes exist?

1. Multigrade classes were organized as a matter of necessity for remote barangays
where the number of children enrolled could not meet the required number to
organize a single grade class and assign the necessary teacher for each class.
2. Distance of the barrio and small number of students for each class.
3. Shortage of funds teachers and school buildings.

What are the advantages and challenges of a multigrade classes?

L E A R N E R
Advantages Challenges
1. Maximum social interaction between/among 1. Requires more discipline,
peers. greater concentration and
2. Cooperative learning is predominant. more focus in order to benefit
3. Will learn to be independent, self-directed from effective strategies e.g
learners can learn to be more resourceful. peer teaching, group work, self
4. Prepared for real life – situations where there directed learning.
is constant interaction between people of 2. Less reliance on direct
different ages, varied skills and abilities. supervision by teacher.
5. Can learn to assume leading or supporting 3. Requires more initiative and
role as needed in different work situations. resourceful to function
6. Stigma associated with failure and repetition effectively in a multigrade class.
is removed. 4. May receive less individual
7. Girls who are often expected to stay home or attention from a less
at least close to home to take care younger experienced teacher or one
siblings or the household will have more who is not well-trained in
chances to go to school since schools are multigrade teaching.
located within the community.
8. Evidence suggests that multigrade students
can attain higher achievement levels
especially in math, science and language.

T E A C H E R
Advantages Challenges
1. Can make the most of inter-age, multi- 1. Requires more preparation
level situation to facilitate learning of curriculum learning
processes. materials.
2. Can get to know students more and 2. Requires more careful study
carefully asses their needs and adopt of learner’s developmental
appropriate teaching strategies characteristics across the age
3. Can innovate and experiment with levels involved in the class,
different age groups and deal with approaches and strategies
curriculum content across subject areas. that are effective and viable
4. Shares responsibility for facilitating within a multigrade class.
learning with pupils, parents, other 3. More investment in
community members organization of the
5. More opportunities for activity – classroom as learning
centered, experience – based approaches environment.
rather than whole group, 4. More meticulous and
lecture/drill/rote methods of teaching. systematic record keeping
to keep track of student
progress, curriculum

development and
implementation is required.

C O M M U N I T Y & S C H O O L S Y S T E M
Advantage Challenges
1. Efficient means of providing educational 1. Student achievement may be
services to thinly populated areas and poor if programs do not have
remote communities. the required resources and
2. Efficient means of using limited teachers are not properly
educational resources such as trained trained.
teachers, classrooms, and materials. 2. Requires investment in
3. Maintaining small barrio schools help to training of teachers,
build and sustain the identity of the supervisors and
community and the cultural life of the administrative personnel to
people in the community. prepare them for the
demands of mulltigrade
teaching and administration
of multigrade schools.

What does effective multigrade teaching involve?

1. Systematic, well-organized and planned instructional delivery and grouping.
2. A well – managed classroom that is conducive to learning because the necessary
resources are available and the necessary discipline among the students has been
developed so that they can focus on learning.
3. A cooperative learning environment where self-directed learning is balanced with
teacher – directed activities, peer teaching and group work.
4. A teacher who is well – prepared to actually serve as a FACILITATOR of learning
rather than as than as the only source of knowledge in the classroom and who is well
– prepared to apply a variety of instructional strategies and techniques to suit the
varied needs of learners.
5. A well – designed curriculum that allows for and encourages integration of subject
matter areas and a variety of activities as learning experiences for the students.

Basic Principles of Multigrade Teaching

1. Children are unique.
2. Children can learn best from experience.
3. Children can and do learn well from one another.
4. The role of teacher in a classroom involves setting – up and managing a learning
environment that will be conducive to learning and teaching.
5. The implementation of the school curriculum must take into consideration the varied
abilities, levels and interests within particular group.
6. The value of any educational program will be judged according to how well it is able
to achieve the goals of the program – whether the children actually learn what they
are expected to learn and how well they have learned.
7. Inter – aging or the combination of children of different ages is more respectful of
individual needs of learners and reflects real – life.

The component of a multigrade classroom

1. Learner – the center of the educational process.
2. Teachers – a critical figure in the teaching – learning environment.

Facilitator Instructor Manager Observer Evaluator Planner
3. Other adults like parents and community members.

Classroom Management Practices as Best Strategies for an Effective Multigrade Teaching

A. Instructions
1. Provides different lesson in every subject for the two grade level
2. Plans learning activities to suit pupils’ ability and interest.
3. Divide class into small group and individual group within a day.
4. Time management is shown by alternating whole group periods with small group
activities and individual work within a day.
5. Prepares different sets of test by grade.
6. Provides pupils with necessary materials to work independently after whole group or
small group instruction.
7. Allows one grade to work or read independently or in group while discussing lessons
to other grade level.
8. Treats two grade level as one in the class with different activities suited to their level.

B. Pupil Management
1. Assign seats for individual whole group activity.
2. Schedules classroom routine such as flag ceremony, attendance taking, and classroom
maintenance activity.
3. Provides attendance chart to be filled up by pupils as soon as they arrive in class.
4. Prepares daily/weekly job chart for the children to accomplish.
5. Establish clear class routines such as passing of papers, falling in line and doing
individual/group works.
6. Provide an access to all pupils.
7. Involve children in classroom maintenance by using the “Job Chart”.
8. Allows pupils to sit by grade level facing to their own blackboard.
9. Schedules daily routines and activities.

C. Discipline
1. Sets classroom rules and regulations for the children to follow.

2. Talks privately to the disruptive pupils.
3. Explains classroom rules clearly.
4. Imposes rules in passing or checking papers, quizzes and assignments.
5. Treats pupils with justice and fairness.
6. Assign pupil secretary to monitor class behavior.
7. Requires pupils to fall in line before entering and leaving the classroom.
8. Checks then accomplishments for daily routinary activities.
9. Treats pupil with justice and fairness.

D. Classroom Atmosphere
1. Blackboards are in opposite walls of the classroom.
2. Classroom lay out is flexible to cater indoor game.
3. Desks/chairs are lighter capable to be moved and can be moved freely for group
activities.
4. Furniture and equipments are in movable type capable for arranging and rearranging.
5. Learning materials are properly arranged and prepared by teachers.
6. Provides a variety of arrangements throughout the year.
7. Arranges furniture in such a way it provide for convenient flow.
8. Labels the areas of the classrooms and containers of materials for the children to
easily learn its usage and function.
9. Classroom is attractively and neatly arranged.
10. Maintain cleanliness and orderliness inside the classroom.
11. All parts of the room are well ventilated.

Thank You , Good Luck! God bless!!!!! See in the workforce in the near
future………………

The challenges of multigrade teaching

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The challenges of multigrade teaching