MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Teacher Education

Course Title Teaching Multi-Age/Multi – grade Classes

Sem/AY 2nd Semester, AY 2022 – 2023
Topic Lesson 2: Definition of Terms Related to Multi – grade Classes

INTRODUCTION OF THE LESSON

Welcome to this session. In this module, you will be exposed with the following terms (1)
Multigrade Class, (2) Multigrade Teaching, (3) Pure Multigrade, and (4) Mixed Multi grade.
This will give us a better understanding on the similarities and differences of these terms.

PRESENTATION OF OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should have:

1. defined the following terms:
1.1 Multigrade Class
1.2 Multigrade Teaching
1.3 Pure Multigrade
1.4 Mixed Multigrade;
2. described multigrade classes in your locality; and
3. used the identified terms accordingly.

WARM – UP ACTIVITY

Before you begin this module, let me ask you the questions below. Use the attached
Activity Sheet No. 1 to write your answer.

1) What comes to your mind if you hear the word ‘multigrade’ or ‘multi-age’ classes?
2) Who are the students in multigrade classes?
3) Describe the life of a teacher in a multigrade class setting.
To learn more about this lesson, I encourage you to read and understand the concepts of
multigrade settings through its definitions. This implies that there are also differences on how
people view these situations.

Let’s start!
CENTRAL ACTIVITIES
Learning Input

The main purpose of this session is to really immerse you from the different contexts
and/or terms related to ‘multigrade’, from different levels, that will be used in this course. The
identified terms have their commonality which is the word “multi - grade’. When you talk or read
about information about ‘multigrade’, you will come across different terms. But we have to bear
in mind that if we say ‘multi’ it means plenty, many, or more

that one. The word ‘grade’ means or refers to the level. Multigrade, therefore, means many grades.

Multigrade Class. This refers to a class that has two (2) or more grade level of children in
one classroom. They are taught one by one in one room at the same time. Multigrade classes also
called ‘multi – age group’. This is a term used today to describe mixed age – groups. Multi – age
grouping may be implemented for institutional or pedagogical reasons by the administration of the
school, but the outcome is that students are able to interact across age groups and have long – term
relationships with other students and teachers.
In a more comprehensive definition, Regional Memo of Region II defined
‘multigrade’ as class of two (2) or more grades under the responsibility of one teacher in a complete
or incomplete elementary school. The term multigrade is used to include a combination class
(composed of two (2) grades) or multigrade class (composed of three (3) or more grades).
Multigrade classes were organized as a matter of necessities for remote barangays
where the number of children enrolled could not meet the required number to organize a single
grade class. Sometimes this exists because of the shortage of funds, teachers, and school building.

Multigrade Teaching. Is a situation in which one teacher has to teach many grades, all at
the same time. It happens in all schools where there are more grades than teachers. Some
multigrade teachers may teach two grades, but some teach three or four grades. In very small
schools, teachers may teach six or seven grades at the same time under one roof. In different parts
of the world, different terms are used to describe multigrade teaching. Sometimes people refer to
this as:
a) Split class teaching
b) Double – grade teaching
c) Multi – level class teaching
d) Multi – program, composite class
e) Vertical streamed classes
f) Integrated class teaching
 Multigrade teaching is different in two main ways: (1) The curriculum for the grades being
combined is integrated that is, common elements from the different year programs are combined
into one program for the class. There is not two or three separate programs operating, just one that
provides different levels of challenge to the students, and (2) The learning is student centered not
grade level centered, so students have the opportunity to work at their level of ability, through the
different levels of activities provided by the teacher. The needs of the student determine the
teaching and learning, learning is student driven.
Generally, the term ‘multigrade teaching’ refers to a teaching situation where a single
teacher has to take responsibility for teaching pupils across more than one curriculum grade within
a timetabled period. Schools with multigrade classes are referred to as multigrade school.

Pure multigrade. This refers to a school offering a complete elementary curricula with
only three (3) or four (4) teachers teaching combination classes.

Mixed multigrade. In most schools, students are placed in single grade class based on
their age and/or level. Sometimes, it is formed by choice and sometimes by necessity. “Multiage”
and “composite” are only two types of mixed grade class, though in common parlance the terms
are used to describe all type of mixed – grade classes or mixed multi – grade classes.
This term is associated to the first definition discussed earlier because the term mixed –
grade class refers to combination of 2 or more grade level of children in one classroom.

CENTRAL ACTIVITIES

Now that you have learned basic concepts/ideas about the terms referred to a ‘multigrade’
setting, it is your time to attest how you define this by identifying a teacher who is/was exposed
to this kind of teaching experiences in the field. From this activity, we may come up a definite
term that we are using in our locality in Ilocos Norte. See the attached Activity Sheet No. 2 as
your guide to do this activity. Use the following steps as your guide.

Step 1. Look for a teacher who has teaching experiences in a multi – grade class. If
there is no teacher available in you place, try to ask for referrals. This could
be done in a face – to – face data gathering or via phone call or SMS.
Step 2. Ask the questions identified in Activity Sheet No. 2.
Step 3. Submit your activity on or before March 03, 2023 until 6 o’clock in the
afternoon at the ECSNED office (Teacher Pol’s table)
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Teacher Education

ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 1

Name of Student ______
Student No. ______
Course Code ______
Course Title ______
Sem/AY ______

1) What comes to your mind if you hear the word ‘multigrade’ or ‘multi – age’ classes?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

2) Who are the students in multigrade classes?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

3) Describe the life of a teacher in a multigrade class.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
 MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Teacher Education

ACTIVITY SHEET NO. 2

Name of Student ______
Student No. ______
Course Code ______
Course Title ______
Sem/AY ______

A. Personal Background of the Teacher

Name of the Teacher

Name of School/Level

No of Year/s in Service
(as a Multi – Grade Teacher)

No. of Hours to Travel

(from the place of origin to his/her
school)

No. of Students
(per level/class)

Compositions of Students/Pupils
(with age bracket/age range)

B. Activity Proper
1. As a multi – grade teacher, what are your experiences/challenges in dealing with your students
and/or pupils most especially in your classes?

2. What challenged you the most as a multi – grade teacher?

C. Synthesis