Extra credit: Chris Bratta - Fremont Intermediate School, Mundelein
Need to know: Teaches the grade three and four multi-age classroom. She has been teaching for 27 years, including 22 at Fremont. She has been teaching multi-age classes at Fremont for 19 years.
Q. When your district started multi-age classrooms, were you eager to participate or did you need to be convinced? Why?
A. I was very excited to participate. I was asked, along with another colleague, to start up the 3-4 MAP program 19 years ago. Our school already had a 1-2 MAP program in place for five years, and because of parent and administration support of the program, 3-4 MAP was added. I knew it would be a challenge, but I loved the idea of having the kids for two years and I believed in the philosophy of differentiating curriculum for the various ability levels within the classroom.
Q. What advantages does a multi-age/grade classroom offer for students over a traditional single-grade classroom?
A. I see many advantages of the multi-age classroom. The biggest is having the students for two years. This is great for me as a teacher and for the students. The transition in the beginning of the year is seamless.
I know half of the children that are returning as fourth-graders. I know where they are academically and socially. I know their little quirks and interests, and they know me. We are comfortable with each other. I usually know a handful of the incoming third-graders as well because I have had their siblings in previous years.
It is also wonderful for the students in the second year because they know what is expected and they look forward to being the older students in the class. Being in a classroom for two years also provides students with a chance to be role-models and "shining stars" for the incoming third-graders. Their confidence, as well as their empathy for others, soars that second year.
This does not necessarily happen in a single-age classroom. An advantage for the third-graders is that they have the luxury of a fourth-grade "buddy" that helps them learn the ropes of a new school and classroom at the beginning of the year. The buddies go to lunch and recess together and help them with learning the routine of the classroom and school.
This helps promote a classroom environment that is like a family. We work together, play together, stick up for each other and encourage each other. It really is an awesome experience for teachers, students and parents.
Q. What challenges have you handled that you didn't expect when you started teaching a multi-age class?
A. A challenge we have faced has been in scheduling within our building between both third and fourth grade single-age classes.
Q. If you could combine two non-education things the way you mix two grade levels, what would you blend? (Chocolate and peanut butter? Music and pajama pants?)
A. Cereal and milk - you could have them separately, but they are much better together.