Multi-age Classrooms

Multi-age grouping gives Chance students daily opportunities to develop and practice important life skills during their foundational years.  Students in multi-age classes are with two lead teachers for two years, enabling a rich teacher-student relationship that focuses on long-term goals for learners.

Since 1978, Chance has embraced multi-age grouping in elementary classrooms. We began providing this option to students in the 3- and 4-year-old preschool levels in 2007.

Threes and Fours Preschoolers
Multi-age grouping with a maximum of 16 students with two lead teachers in the classroom

Kindergarten/Primary 1
Multi-age grouping with a maximum of 24 kindergarten and first-grade students with two certified teachers in each classroom

Primary 2/3   
Multi-age grouping with a maximum of 24 second- and third-grade students with two certified teachers in each classroom

Intermediate 4/5   
Multi-age grouping with a maximum of 28 fourth- and fifth-grade students with two certified teachers in the classroom

Learners are individuals

In the multi-age classroom, teachers focus on each learner as an individual. The program follows the natural growth and development of young children and emphasizes learning as a process.  Age and grade level are not limits to learning.

Our philosophy

Students are co-creators of knowledge. The Chance program promotes meaningful exploration and discovery while developing a solid foundation for a lifetime of living and learning.  Our goal is to empower children, nurture literacy, produce self-directed workers, raise responsible citizens and create a functional democracy.

Multi-age grouping gives Chance students daily opportunities to develop and practice important life skills during their foundational years, in a classroom setting under the guidance of two lead teachers. The core curriculum serves as the foundation, but preconceived limits to learning are removed.  All students are capable and valuable. This culture helps students learn more, achieve more, and develop the work habits needed to succeed in a complex, competitive world. 

The evolution of the classroom

The traditional classroom was based on the factory “assembly line” model that evolved during the Industrial Revolution. Curriculum was standardized, and children were grouped according to their chronological age at specific levels. Subjects were segregated, and rote learning was stressed as students moved in hourly increments to receive knowledge from many teachers. 

Of course, this mechanized achievement in industry does not transfer to success for children. Today’s educators have a much better understanding of human development. At Chance, teachers provide a school environment that optimizes motivation, participation and achievement based on how children learn. They use best-practice principles to effectively support and challenge individual learners in cognitive, social, emotional, moral and physical development.  Program schedules and components are organized to meet the abilities and needs of individual learners.

The benefits of a multi-age classroom

• The focus is on individual learners with their unique set of strengths, challenges and readiness, regardless of age and grade. Ongoing assessment guides the instruction of each student.
• Two lead teachers provide support and challenge students to expand their awareness and broaden their understanding. Whole group lessons, plus individual and small-group work, build on the abilities and needs of the class.
• Relationships with teachers and peers are ongoing, which adds consistency to a child’s school experience.  Multi-age grouping develops a sense of community, encourages risk-taking and promotes mentoring under the guidance of two lead teachers.
• A dynamic cycle is created over a two-year span for students to develop leadership roles.  During their first year, new students are on the receiving end of respect and kindness while joining the class. In their second year, they serve as mentors and give back to younger classmates.