Unit Two: The Challenges of Multi-Grade Classes

1. Identify the functions and roles of the multi grade teacher.

2. Recognize the advantages of having small schools in providing education multi-grade classes
3. Describe the difficulties and constraints faced by teachers in single-teacher school and multi-grade classes
4. Formulate solutions to reduce the difficulties and constraints faced by teachers in single-teacher schools and
multi-grade classes.
5. Identify the three most important constraints about which teachers can resolve immediately

Case 2.1:
Population Decline Leads to Multi-grade Classes
Advantages
Preparedness
Multi-Skilled
Multi- Talen ted
Functions and Roles of the Multi-grade Teacher

Case 2.1 Population Decline Leads to Multi-grade Classes

A government All-Age School was built in the 1960s in the fishing village of San Dionisio, Iloilo, to
serve population of 600 students. However, during the last 40 years, the population has declined
significantly, due to death and migration overseas, and dispersal to other parishes in the island.
In addition, several parents, for status reasons, prefer to send their children to private.preparatory
schools in Zara, usually near where they work. The enrolment of the school, therefore, has
declined to approximately 160 students

With this population decline, and the reduction in the number of teachers, grade levels have been
merged: Grades 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6 and grades 7, 8 and 9. Most teachers are assigned from other areas, and
are, therefore, unfamiliar with the community and its practices. Teachers are faced with the task of teaching multi-
grade classes without training.
The teachers had to acquire these skills on-the-job and were included in the Department of Education
multi-grade project, through which they acquired additional skills. In addition, the dynamic school principal
established partnerships with the private sector and community organizations, to improve the learning environment.
The San Dionisio Environment Management Trust, in collaboration with the school, developed a project funded by
a local agency to establish a computer laboratory for the use of students and community members.

The Multi-Faceted Nature of the Multi-Grade Teacher

Advantages
To understand fully all the challenges of multi-grade classes, it is useful to examine their potential
advantages, and how the average trained, or untrained, teacher is prepared first to recognize them, and then to cope
with them. Research on the effectiveness of multi-grade teaching has indicated that, if well done, pupils can have the
same, and sometimes even better results than single-grade schools.
For example, one of the studies showed that in terms of academic achievement,
the data clearly supported the multi-grade classroom as a viable, and equally
effective organizational alternative, to single-grade instruction. When it comes to
student effect, the case for multi-grade organization appears much stronger with
multi-grade students out-performing single-grade students in over 75 per cent
of the measures used. (Source.. Miller 1989).

These students can be among the high performers when the techniques of teaching multi-grade
classes are mastered. Although there are many challenges, there are several advantages. Teachers within that
environment, have the opportunity to address various social issues, which assist the developmental processes, not
only of the students, but of their parents as well. Such issues include:
1. Health promotion;
2. Agriculture;
3. Micro-finance.

Other advantages mentioned in the literatures are:

Low student/teacher ratio;
An opportunity for highly individualized teaching;
An opportunity to develop/strengthen leadership, and the cooperative and management skills, of the
students themselves.

Preparedness
Frequently the teacher may not be aware that he/she is going to teach in a multi-grade school, until
he/she arrives at the location.
The skills required to manage students, and teach within a multi-grade environment, are usually not
taught at training colleges. Teachers also lack the support needed to be creative and innovative in using existing
resources.
Multi-Skilled
In the multi-grade class environment, each teacher is expected to know, and be able to teach effectively,
different subject areas at different grade levels. For example, one teacher who has the responsibility for grades 1, 2
and 3 would need to know:

 Social Studies at Grade levels 1, 2 and 3;

 Mathematics at Grade levels 1, 2 and 3;
 Language Arts/English at Grade levels 1, 2 and 3.
 The teacher is expected to have an array of skills and talents, in addition to those required in the specific
subject areas within the normal teaching curriculum. Some of these skills and talents are:
Research;
Supervision;
Planning;
Organization;
Facilitation;
Management;
Motivation;
Evaluation.

Functions and Roles of Multi-grade Teachers

As a teacher in a multi-grade class, you may have a number of functions and roles, some of which are
listed below:
As Field/Action Researcher
If parents think that what the school teaches is irrelevant to their lives, there will be no motivation for
sending students to schools. There would be greater advantages in involving the students in the economic activity of
their parents. To meet adequately the needs of the students and the community, the teacher has to know the needs of
the community. This means that the teacher is required to have some social research skills. A teacher in a multi-grade
class needs to under- take studies on methods and techniques, which improve participation and learning achievement.
Example:
In some countries, particularly in Jamaica, students’ attendance tends to fall significantly on Fridays in
rural communities. Teachers should determine what the parents do, why students are absent on Fridays,
and the ways in which students assist their parents.

As Teacher/Learning Facilitator

The main function of the multi- grade teacher is the development of students into persons who have some
knowledge, skills, and share desirable values and attitudes. The teacher should know his/her students, and their
experiences, so that he/she can use strategies which will make learning appealing and effective. The teacher should
also be able to recognize, and cater for, the individual differences which exist among the students.
Example
In a community where agriculture is the main economic activity and the products are sold in the local
market, the teacher could spend some time discussing the activities in which students are involved. For
example, teachers can teach students some sales techniques, and show how to display courtesy when
selling. Students can learn to make advertising posters.

As Community Liaison/Resource Person

Most teachers, because of their training, position and responsibility, assume an important position in the
local community. The multi- grade teacher is no different. The nature of many situations, where a multi-grade school
exists, is such that the cooperation and assistance of the local community is needed, to improve the quality of the
educational services provided by the multi-grade schools.
Example
Because teachers are trained, they are frequently valuable resource persons. A teacher may complete
forms for community members and become very active in religious, social and cultural activities, and visit
homes to strengthen the home school relationship.

As Social Worker/Counsellor
The multi-grade teacher is often the most well- educated person in the community (in a formal as distinct
from a non-formal sense). As such, he/she plays an important role as an adviser to students and their families, in a
wide range of social, and possibly psychological, matters.
Example
The teacher can easily determine from the responses of the students, whether they can see or hear
normally. The teacher can possibly identify whether there are other problems, which may affect the
learning abilities or development of the child.

As Evaluator

One of the roles which a multi-grade teacher must play, is to monitor the process of the pupil’s learning, so
as to ensure a good quality of education. This requires teachers to determine the educational levels of pupils when
they first enter the class, during the school year, and at the end of it.

Example
The teacher keeps an ongoing record of the performance of each student. With this data, the teacher can
determine whether the cognitive, affective and other developments in the child are taking place
appropriately

As Material Designer

Although various curriculum materials are usually prepared by central and/or provincial authorities of
education, multi-grade teachers still need to develop their own support materials related to the pupil’s environment.

Example
If a teacher finds him, or herself, in an environment, where there is dairy farming, the materials which
he/she prepares need to reflect this. Visual representations of the alphabet could include ‘b’ for beef, ‘c’
for cattle and ‘e’ for egg, etc.

As Para-Professional Trainer

Learning is a continuous process, and it happens both at home and at school. The teacher has a critical
role in the training of parents, and other local community members, to act as facilitators for student’s learning.

Example
 Many parents believe that children must be seen and not heard, yet when they become young adults,
they are miraculously expected to participate in adult discussions. Teachers can expose parents to the
various stages of development of their children, and how they should be treated at each stage.

As Government Extension Worker

Many multi-grade classes are situated in isolated and remote regions, and the schools often form center
in such communities. Many government policies, concerning family planning and health care, can be put into practice
better with the help of teachers.

Example
Teachers frequently have access to homes and parents, from whom they command much respect. As
agents of the government, and as change agents in their own right, teachers are able to give advice on
the nutrition of students, their hygiene, the need for establishing routines in the home, and the need for
rest and relaxation.

As Quality Controller

A major national concern has been to provide education for as many people as possible. The attainment
of this objective has been difficult for many countries, particularly where, for example, some members of the population
live in remote and isolated regions, minority groups use different languages, and people live nomadic lifestyles, etc.
The teacher in a multi-grade class needs to monitor closely the performance of his/her pupils and take steps to ensure
that they achieve the competence needed for permanent literacy and numeracy.

Example
Teachers can assist students who, perhaps, for health reasons, are unable to attend school regularly, by
setting assignments and marking them. Teachers can also encourage parents to send their children to
school every day Teachers should also keep a close watch on the performance of each student over time,
to monitor her progress and pay special attention to students who do not show progress.

As Surrogate Parent

In remote and isolated communities, particularly where the teacher speaks the local language, and is well
accepted by the local community, the multi-grade teacher often forms a closer relationship with his or her pupils than
is found in city schools, and age-grade schools. The atmosphere in a multi-grade classroom is more like that of a home,
since pupils are not separated by age or grade levels. In this context, the multi-grade teacher is often seen as a
surrogate parent to the students.

Example
The classroom environment is more like a family than a classroom, and teachers are more likely to give
more attention to students in smaller classes. The teacher is more sensitive, and likely to recognize when
there is a problem with a child and pay more attention to that child’s needs.

As Financial Manager

The multi-grade teacher is a manager of the finances of the school in situations where a financial allocation
is made to the school.
 Example
The teacher must keep day-to-day records of all expenditure, and make sure that all receipts are kept to
support that expenditure. This information will be needed to balance any finances received.
As Representative of Cultural, Moral and Political Values

The multi-grade teacher plays an important role in the life of the community in terms of cultural, moral
and political values. He/she can utilize the positive values of the community to enhance the participation of the
community in the life of the school, and the learning achievement of the pupils. The multi-grade teacher needs to avoid
conflicts with the community. (Source: Ian Birch).

Example:
Each teacher should know about positive cultural practices, e.g. dyeing fabric, basket-making and taking care of the
elder that are unique to the community. He/she can invite parents or other community members to talk about, or
demonstrate, those practices to the students