1. The Multiage Neighborhood

2. Multiage Neighborhood Philosophy  A balance of whole class and small group instruction, cooperative learning groups, and independent activities  Project-based learning  Realistic, student generated products  Authentic and developmental assessment “Childhood is a journey, not a race.” David Elkind

3. Multiage Neighborhood Overview  Each child is assigned to a home base  Each home base includes 3 rd, 4 th, and 5th graders  Students remain in the same home base for their time at Mindess  All students have the opportunity to work with all teachers  Weekly Neighborhood meetings to celebrate accomplishments, discuss issues, and develop community

4. Typical Multiage Neighborhood Day  Special subjects: art, music, and physical education  Literacy and Mathematics: taught in performance- based groups  Social Studies: grades 3 and 4 together, grade 5 separate  Science: in home base  Home base: Numerous activities, including writers’ workshop, study skills, research projects, and community building

5. Benefits of the Multiage Classroom  Creates self-motivated, enthusiastic learners  Flexible grouping by needs, ability, and interest  Students develop the ability to work with different teachers and peers  Younger children stimulated intellectually by older children  Older students improve leadership skills  Children collaborate and build cooperative learning skills  Strong student-teacher-family bonds formed  Allows children to stay children longer

6. Multiage Neighborhood Inclusion Program Full inclusion program Math and literacy are co-taught by a special education teacher and a general education teacher Support in science and social studies within individual homebase classrooms Individual academic support provided as needed across the curriculum Pull-out services provided if specified in IEP

7. Benefits for Students with Special Needs Many opportunities for kinesthetic learning Students have the ability to share knowledge in a variety of ways Younger students receive support from older students Older students act as mentors to younger students Varied activities and frequent opportunities for movement help students focus

8. Thank You!