Multi-Age Classroom Widens Horizons

A metal, 8-foot-tall, simulated rocket with “USA” and “NASA” painted on its side waits in the corner of a Linda Vista Elementary School classroom, tantalizing students’ imaginations.

The students will get to spend an entire day reading and gazing at glow-in-the-dark stars in the spacecraft, and aren’t intimidated by the responsibility of planning their own schedule. They have grown accustomed to such unusual opportunities as students in Placentia-Unified School District’s only multi-age classroom.

But the class, created three years ago based on a model that combines consecutive grade levels and keeps those students in the same class for several years, is facing some changes.

Linda Vista’s original multi-age model, involving first through third grades, changed to second and third grades this year. Because the district reduced first-grade class sizes, they could not accept any first-graders.

Next year, teachers Charlene Brood and Linda Luwe hope to go back to a three-level class, but may have to settle for first and second grades. They said it will depend on whether the district plans to take advantage of the state incentive to also lower class sizes in second and third grades.

“There’s a different feel this year,” Brood said. “When they start in first grade, they get to experience being the youngest, middle and oldest child in our family. They begin to really look out for one another.”

Despite uncertainty about what grades may be involved next year, the teachers are confident the class concept will remain intact.

Both said they enjoy the multi-age class because it gives them flexibility for projects like “rocket time” and lets them form a strong bond with children.

Ali Flora, 9, agreed that her class of 60 second- and third-graders is special.

“It’s different because you get to know more people and have more friends,” said Flora, who has been in the class for three years. “You get to know the teachers a lot too.”

Third-grader Lisa Black, 9, said she thought activities like “rocket time” should be available to all students, who should get to choose their homework assignments from a list of options like her teachers provide.

Students and teachers aren’t the only supporters of the class.

“The parents are more like a family member,” Luwe said, referring to their 30 parent volunteers. “They’re really like our friends.”

The teachers say the parent volunteers are an essential part of the class’ success, because they allow the teachers to split the students into small groups.