Students Of Many Ages Share Teacher, Classroom

When third-grader Courtney Millan has trouble with her spelling, she has lots of places to turn for help.

She shares a classroom with fourth and fifth graders at Trent Elementary. It’s the second year of the school’s experiment with multi-age classrooms.

“I like it because there’s older kids and they can help you a lot with your work if you don’t know what you’re doing,” said Millan, who is 8.

In Millan’s class, taught by Vicki Spring, there are six third graders, nine fourth graders and nine fifth graders.

Trent principal Shelley Harding began researching multi-age classrooms four years ago. She began by sending Trent teachers on trips to observe and research other multi-age classrooms around the state.

Last year, Trent launched its program with three combined combined fourth and fifth grades. This year, three classes combine first and second grades, two have third, fourth and fifth graders and two have fourth and fifth graders.

Fourth-grader Amber Olsen is in Spring’s class.

“It’s different,” Olsen said. “I’m used to being in a grade with only one grade in it.” But, she added, “I like it. I get to meet a lot of new kids that are in all three grades.”

Advocates of multi-age classrooms say it encourages cooperation and spurs younger students to achieve at a higher level. And though many of the older students learn from teaching the younger students, sometimes it’s the other way around.

“Sometimes I don’t understand the math,” said fifth-grader Chris Volpe, 10. When he works with younger students, “they know some stuff, so they help me.”

That’s how it should be, Harding said.

“When teachers organize activities, they organize them so everybody is able to have strengths. It’s not a ‘younger or older’ thing,” she said.

Also, because students in Spring’s multi-age class stay with the same teacher for three years, there’s more continuity and understanding between the student and teacher, Spring said.

“We have kids for more than one year, so there’s that follow through,” she said.

Reading, writing workshops

The Parent and Learners (PAL) program will hold workshops this fall for parents of kindergartners, first-, second- and third-grade students in Central Valley schools.

The workshops, scheduled for October and November, will teach parents how to read with their children, how to help children improve writing skills and how to help children develop and apply critical thinking skills.

Parents should bring their children along to the free workshops as the activities are interactive. All workshops will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.

The schedule is as follows:

Kindergarten: Oct. 3, Greenacres Elementary, 17915 E. Fourth; Oct. 5, Ponderosa Elementary, 10105 E. Cimmarron Road.

Grade 1: Oct. 10, Progress Elementary, 710 N. Progress; Oct. 12, Keystone Elementary, 612 S. McDonald.

Grade 2: Oct. 26, Sunrise Elementary, 14603 E. 24th; Nov. 2, McDonald Elementary, 1512 S. McDonald.

Grade 3: Nov. 7, Blake Elementary, 13313 E. Broadway; Nov. 9, Chester Elementary, 3525 S. Pines.

For more information or to register, call the PAL office at 922-6991.

WV schools need volunteers

West Valley School District is looking for volunteers to assist children with schoolwork, share special talents or help teachers with non-teaching duties. If interested, call Polly Smith at 924-2150.

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MEMO: Education Notebook is a regular feature of the Valley Voice. If you have news about an interesting program or activity at a Valley school or about the achievements of Valley students, teachers or school staff, please let us know. Write: Education Notebook, Valley Voice, E13208 Sprague, Spokane, WA 99216. Call: 927-2166. Fax: 927-2175.