Multi-age Education
Multi-age Education has existed for centuries. It is a recent phenomenon to divide learning levels by age or grade. Garden of Angels School has chosen multi-age education after comparing the benefits to the current education system. Garden of Angels is committed to creating well-rounded individuals. Garden of Angels lives by the philosophy that students develop at their own pace. Children, who share the same age, can range in ability level tremendously. No two children are ever at the same level at the same time. A curriculum must be designed to challenge every child. This curriculum must creatively introduce materials in an interesting and engaging manner that accommodates all learning styles. Multi-age Education in combination with the “Garden Philosophy” is designed to foster and harvest these needs.
In order to create a well-rounded individual, growth must occur -- academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Multi-age teaching makes sense. In developing relationships with a classroom of students and having them function at their best possible level, a thorough assessment needs to be completed, and an understanding of learning styles must be determined. A trusting relationship must be formed between teacher and student. In most schools this process needs to repeat itself every year, causing the first quarter of each new school year to be an unavoidable review and minimally productive. In a Multi-age classroom, once the foundation with each child is created, productivity soars until the child graduates from the program.
Teachers develop a much more profound, impacting, relationship with each student under this philosophy. Multi-age education provides a family-style environment in the classroom.
Academically, the beneficial result of Multi-age education is a creative, hands-on, research-based curriculum. Each child is placed in a group that matches their unique ability.
Elementary school introduces basic concepts and builds on them every year. In Multi-Age, the concept is introduced and then graduates to rich and sophisticated ideas surrounding the concepts. This allows every child to be challenged.
One of the best experiences possible is for children to act as teachers. Inherently, it is a cooperative work environment with the older students mentoring the younger children. Teaching is the best way to comprehensively learn. The younger benefit from the one on one attention and can grasp ideas at an accelerated level. There is a misconception that older students could be a detriment to younger students. Our whole, multi-age education requires them to be accountable, appropriate, and positive mentors. Mentoring is reinforced through the teachers, in an environment that exudes these principles. We stand for students of all ages being able to coexist together.
The “Garden Philosophy” is fulfilling, addresses whole and specific needs, and inspires joyful people who are passionate about education and their lives.
