Teaching Multi-Grade Classes(ELECTIVE)

 This is a course in implementation of multi-grade classes that deals with the

theories, principles and concepts of multi-grade learners and classes. It includes
pedagogical approaches and contextualized learning environments for the different
grade and age levels are grouped for instructions in different school situations.

Course Requirement:

When you have completed this module/subject, you will be able to:
 Aligned the objectives, activities and assessment in the lesson plan
 Perform a demo-teaching on selected elementary topic in a multi-grade classroom.

What is multi-grade teaching?

 Refers to a primary education wherein a teacher has to teach two or more grades in
the same class/classroom.
 Consists of two or more different grade levels in a single classroom manned one
teacher.

Why Multigrade Class Exists?

 Multi-grade classes were organized as a matter of necessities 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.
 Distance of the barangay
 Shortage of funds teachers and school buildings

Roles of Teacher in Multigrade Class

 As a teacher, As a facilitator, As a planner, As an evaluator, As a material designer,
As contact with the community.

Advantages and challenges of Multi-grade Teaching

 Maximum social interaction between peers
 Cooperative learning is predominant
 Will learn to be independent, self-directed learners and can learn to be more
resourceful
 Prepared for real life
 Can learn to assume leading and supporting role as needed in different work
situations.

Advantages and challenges of Multi-grade Teaching(cont.)

 Students who are expected to stay home will have more chances to go to school
since schools are located within the community
 Stigma associated with failure and repetition is removed

Challenges for learners

 Requires more discipline, greater concentration and more focus in order to benefit
from effective strategies
 Less reliance on direct supervision by teachers
 Requires more initiative and resourceful to function effectively
 May receive less individual attention from less experienced teacher
Advantages for Teachers
  Can make the most of inter-age, multilevel situation to facilitate learning process.
 Can get to know students more and carefully assess their needs and adopt
appropriate teaching strategies
 Can innovate and experiment with different age groups and deal with curriculum
content across subject areas

Advantages for Teachers(cont.)

 Shares responsibility for facilitating learning with pupils, parents, other community
members
 More opportunities for activity centered, experienced-based approaches rather than
whole group, lecture/drill/methods of teaching

Challenges for Teachers

 Requires more preparation of curriculum learning materials
 Requires careful study of learner’s developmental characteristics across the age
levels involved in the class, approaches and strategies that are effective within a
multi-grade class
 More assessment in organization of the classroom as learning environment
 More meticulous and systematic record keeping to keep track of student progress is
required.

Basic Priciples:
 Children are unique
 Children can learn best from experience
 Children can and do well from one another
 The role of teacher
 The implementation of the curriculum must consider the varied abilities, levels and
interest within a group
 The evaluation of the educational program
 Inter-aging or the combination of different ages

The multi grade program in the Philippine Education

 The Department of Education ( DepEd) continues to hold multi grade classes in an
effort to ensure that Filipino students in remote areas complete their basic
education.
 Since 1993, the multi grade Program in Philippine Education has significantly
contributed to the Department of Education (DepEd) need to democratize access to
education while ensuring its quality in around 19% of public elementary schools in
isolated, underserved, and sparsely populated communities.
 An education delivery system to democratize access to and improve the quality of
elementary education through the completion of incomplete schools and the
organization of multi grade classes.

Why Multi grade Program in Philippine Education was conceptualized?

 To provide a complete education cycle or expand access in sparsely populated,
remote, isolated areas. To maintain educational services in barangays with
decreasing enrollment.

PROGRAMS AND COMPONENTS OF MULTIGRADE TEACHING

Components :

1. Curriculum Development
-Schools with multigrade classes are referred to as multigrade schools. In todays
knowledge economy, curriculum development plays a vital role in improving the economy
of a country.
-Multigrade classrooms offer increased potential for scaffolding beacuse students of
different ages and abilities are learning .

Here are some salient features of the Multigrade Curriculum:

 Budget of Work, Lesson Plan for Multigrade Classes , Multigrade Handbook ,
Multilevel Materials, 100 Book Library

2. Staff Development
- Effective professional development should help teachers learn how to use their
limited time in an efficient and effective manner.

3. Monitoring and Supervision

- School monitoring and evaluation help in providing a consolidated source of
information showing the progress of the school.

4. Research and Evaluation

- A careful evaluation design helps program managers assess progress, identify
barriers and facilitators, determines whether the evidence of progress is valid and reliable,
and allows staff to make adjusments in order to enhance future effectiveness.

5. Physical Facilities
- The findings suggest that the availability and effective utilization of school physical
facilities plays a significant role in enhancing academic performance of the learner

6. Community Support
- The support community agencies /groups or stakeholders can provide to families
allow parents to better meet the needs of and shpport their children, thereby helping set
the proper conditions for learning and improving school school climate for all.

7. Incentives and Awards

- Theoritically, teacher incentives motivate teacher behavior that improve student
learning and reward teacher who demonstrate desired behavior or whose student improve
learning

Support Programs
1. Multigrade Demonstration School Projects ( MDSP)
-was organized in selected divisions of the country.
- with financial assistance from UNICEF
-will serve as working models for the application of :
• Effective teaching strategies and process of supervision
• Active parent and community participation
• Innovate approaches to multigrade teaching

2. DepED- CCFPI Little Red School house project

 - This program provide disadvantage children access to complete elementary
education through construction of school houses and teacher training in public elementary
schools located in remote, underserved areas nationwide.

3. Pupil Learning Enhancement Program (PLEP)

- This program has been designed to supplement the needs and requirements of a
classroom setting .

4. Search for Multigrade Teacher-Achiever

- The search is open to all multigrade who have rendered dedicated and exemplary
services in teaching MG classes in public schools for the last three years.

5. The multigrade school training video

- this project is a documentary video on multigrade teachinh practices.

6. Congress on Multigrade Education

- This actibitu is in consonance with the Department of Education's policy improving
access and quality in elementary education.