Multi-age education is most similar to the one-room schoolhouse approach. The teacher creates an environment for students of different ages to learn and prosper. The students, working independently and collectively to learn topics of relevance and interest, have increased self-esteem and a more positive attitude toward school. This volume looks at the rationale of multi-age education and the current research on multi-age programs. It describes the steps for implementing a multi-age program and includes specific examples for setting up the classroom, daily planning, determining the curriculum, grouping for instruction, using learning centers, soliciting parent help, and assessing student progress. The book presents samples of student work, cooperative learning lessons, and appropriate themes of study, and it identifies misconceptions about multi-age problems, discusses common problems to avoid, and celebrates the joy of successful programs. (Contains 38 references.) (ND)