In 1991, East Ward Elementary School (Texas) exemplified a dilemma in traditional instruction approaches, namely, that teachers working ever harder using traditional approaches were still not preparing the diverse student population to live in a highly technological, fast-paced world. The staff then engaged in research into the concepts of…

Nongraded education is the practice of teaching children of different ages and ability levels together, without dividing them into groups labeled by grade designations. As the year 2000 approaches and schools are being re-evaluated in light of changing social and economic conditions, nongradedness is the focus of renewed interest. This publication…

Changes in the structure of instruction in schools may affect a variety of participants in the educational system. These first-person narratives from teachers, staff, parents and students detail how each was affected by the change to mixed-age programming in kindergarten through third grade. Participants came from a number of schools in three…

The first Montessori school was founded in Rome in 1907. There was interest in Montessori's methods in the United States between 1910 and 1920, but these methods were forgotten until after 1950, when a second Montessori movement began in the United States. Some schools with Montessori programs are affiliated with the Association Montessori…

A study implemented a self-assessment tool developed to better address the needs of students with low self-direction in an integrated kindergarten/first grade whole language classroom. The tool is an adaptation of the plan/do/review model of the High Scope curriculum for early childhood instruction. The teacher targets students with low…

This study evaluated the teaching methods of 11 day care teachers and caregivers at a university-sponsored center to determine if: (1) the teachers used different strategies for same-age and mixed-age groups of children; (2) there are differences in strategies used by less- and more-experienced teachers; and (3) teachers used specific strategies…

This publication includes two papers by John Hollifield, three ERIC Digests and two ERIC resource lists on group learning, and a reprint of an ERIC search on cooperative learning in elementary and middle schools. The two papers are titled: (1) "Cooperative Learning in Elementary Schools: From Supplemental Instructional Practice to Schoolwide…

In nongraded, multi-age classrooms, children have the opportunity to learn a great deal from their more proficient classmates. Children in multi-age, nongraded programs often learn that children differ, and they learn to assist each other in productive ways. The organizational scheme has the potential to remove much of the competition of…

This paper describes intergenerational (IG) programming and its benefits for children and elders, focusing on the preschool IG program at the Champaign County (Illinois) Nursing Home Child Care Center. The paper begins with a definition of IG programming and describes theories of adult development that may provide insight into how each age group…

This compilation of resource materials includes ERIC Digests, worksheets and short articles. The eight chapters cover: (1) "Readiness/Kindergarten"; (2) "Multiyear Education"; (3) " Extra Learning Time"; (4) "Teaching Across the Curriculum"; (5) " Learning and Understanding"; (6) "Behavior and…

This document is comprised of the three 2002 issues of the newsletter for Generations United, a national membership organization focused on promoting intergenerational policies, strategies, and programs. The first issue reflects on two events: responses to the September 11th terrorist attacks, and on the organization's international conference…

Based on the experience of two early childhood teachers in a research-based collaborative effort to join a preschool class with a first-second grade class for various learning projects, this book offers a model for an approach to early childhood curriculum. The curriculum integrates art, science, gardening, celebrations, intergenerational program…

Improvement of educational opportunities for the more able children in schools has captured and held the attention and imagination of the public. Many are asking what the elementary schools are doing to provide adequate education for these children, and others are suggesting what schools ought to be doing. In response to this interest, the present…

This paper describes a multiage elementary classroom where students can work, learn, and research together. Students ages 6-9 years collaborate on whole-class research inquiries and individual projects. The paper presents examples of these children's work as ethnographers, emphasizing the importance of honoring students' creative abilities. (SM)

Discusses the organization and operation of multi-age classrooms in an elementary school in Nevada. Describes how teachers working with primary classrooms of first and second graders, and intermediate classrooms of third, fourth, and fifth graders, created an adaptive, flexible, and dynamic curriculum that could serve the needs of their…