Mixed Age classes and a slideshare

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

Differentiation Slideshare Version

View more presentations from Jo RJ.

Mixed age classes are taught every day across the UK, not just in small schools but also in schools where a particularly large or small cohort has bucked the trend for admissions creating a temporary mixed age class. And Primary teachers, being the stars that they are, just get on with it. For me, I found it far more complex to differentiaite how I taught Science to my whole KS2 class, until a colleague showed me how she did it. So I applied the same principles to teaching languages and this is what I came up with.

I know Jenny Core, Maggie Smith & Tracey in Devon have been sharing their work with mixed age classes, and I recently met up with them at the CiLT conference in Solihull.

We were in a group at a wonderful presentation by Joan Dickie & facilitated by Kati Szeless. The aim of the group is to share work on how to tackle mixed age classes, so in the spirit of collaboration, I am sharing what I have here on Talkabout.
Here are some links to more posts & discussions about mixed age classes.
Jo's first blog post about mixed age scheme of work
Discussion about using Rigolo with mixed age classes
Discussion about how to plan for German in mixed age class
I have updated and reviewed my own schemes of work several times and now prefer a double two-year rolling program which is over on the Talkabout wiki if you'd like a peak along with schemes kindly uploaded by other members (thanks everyone!)

Here are links to work going on in across the UK on the issue
Lots of ideas over at West Sussex Grid for Learning
Tout le Monde have been having bash here.
A discussion about using Catherine Cheater sow with mixed ages
- you will notice there is a wide variety of approaches & maybe that is right, because just like the students, we teachers are not all the same either!

However my personal number one tip in all my time teaching mixed age - is always teach to the MOST able and differentiate down. Never ever think in terms of 'extending' - let's face it who wants to be extended? Where is the incentive? But every wants to be the one the focus of the lesson is on, and all returners get at least one second chance to make it to that level

Please join in & share any hints & tips you have.

[Lorraine]

Fantastic advice, as usual Jo. Particularly like idea of aiming for most able and differentiating down and I also like carousel activities for providing easy differentiated activities.
Have often talked with colleagues about the advantage of mixed ability groupings (which of course mixed age classes will be) and how all children benefit. Less able can pick up/ absorb things from more able and more able are gaining experience in how to put their ideas into practice without 'taking over'.
Thanks for sharing.