Officials Look at Future of M'burgh Elementary - Could Future Include "Multiage" Classrooms?

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Will the future of Middleburgh elementary school include multiage classrooms in the early grades?

That is the picture that Middleburgh elementary school Principal Amy Irwin posed at the February 12 school board meeting.

In her presentation titled "Reimagining Elementary Education, " Ms. Irwin said that multi-age classrooms could be for children from kindergarten through the second grade. It is imperative that children are prepared for the third grade.

Superintendent Mark Place noted that when children enter kindergarten "some are clearly not ready for kindergarten."

Ms. Irwin added, "How do we change that model so every student is successful?"

A transitional kindergarten may be the answer, officials said. In fact, students can be different ages in kindergarten, and first and second grades.

If any changes are made, it will not be for some time, officials said.

"For the early childhood changes, this concept is very much a work in progress. We will share more information in the coming months with all stakeholders when we have things further developed and answers to more questions."

Ms. Irwin said several educators at the school have been "brainstorming" for months on the possibilities. Officials would work with teachers on how to implement the new system and interim steps may be needed, she added. Programs in other schools will be studied.

"Third grade is the key, learning to read shifts to reading to learn," Ms. Irwin said. "Before grade three, a main instructional focus was on mastering the basics of reading. By grade three, students are expected to use their reading skills as a tool to access knowledge in the other subjects."

Some students are passed through the first and second grade and not ready for the third grade, Mr. Place said, and if a student is one or two years behind in the third grade, they will probably be one or two years behind by the time they reach the secondary school. After they reach the upper grades they will have to be in AIS classes. "All we are doing is seeing a problem we know we will have if we don't do anything."

If instituted, the lower grades would be more like "pods" instead of grades, Ms. Irwin said. "Looping," where students remain with the same teacher for more than one year, would be key, she said.

Multiage classes in the early years provide space and time for students to get ready for grade three, she said. "Expectations for grade three are once students demonstrate mastery in pre-determined skills, both academic and social-emotional, they progress to grade three, no older than 10."

Ms. Irwin and Mr. Place noted that students are in multi-age classrooms in the secondary school.

School board members had many questions on the potential changes.

"People want to know all the details, but we're not at that place," Mr. Place said.

"It’s time to try something new," Ms. Irwin said.