The Multi-age Learning Community in Action: Creating a Caring School Environment for All Children

As schools struggle to teach all students, the multi-age teaching and learning framework has emerged as one of today’s most effective ways to structure schools. Multi-age Learning Community (MAC) Program is a professional development program in action. It presents a framework that can transform schools from a graded system to a multi-age learning environment. This multi-age school targets students’ individual and personal needs and allows students to excel and succeed. The school reform climate today focuses on schools of choice and building effective school environments. This multi-age program creates a unique school niche that is marketable to families. Parents have the option of sending their children to schools that concentrate on achievement that best meets the needs of the learner without disrupting the mandates of the curricula. This book is intended to assist educators at all levels of all school organizations, as well as give policymakers, educators and parents the information on an effective school program. This book gives information on how to transform schools into multi-age classrooms. This book is divided into four parts that explain both the theory and the practice of effective strategies for the multi-age school program: Organizational Practice, Building Culture, Learning Processes, and Assessment and Systemic Improvement. There are specific basic principles and practices that are integrated into a quality and effective framework discussed in the chapters of this book. Each chapter begins with a vignette based on my experiences in multiage schools and concludes with an educator’s reflection to recap the concepts in the chapter. Each chapter also integrates snapshots that areshort real-to-life passages that bring to life concepts discussed in the chapter. Although this book discusses multi-age schools, these ideas may be applied to all school environments. To accommodate all school programs, at the end of each chapter, a section titled Application for All Schools is a framework that discusses just how to apply chapter concepts in any school or classroom program. It is recommended that the reader review the book one time in sequence and then reread each chapter as needed, to give meaning to the reader’s purpose.

Table of Contents:
Foreword- Carol Ann Tomlinson, Ed.D., University of Virginia Preface: Why Multi-age Our School Classrooms? Part I – Organizational Practice Chapter 1: Multi-age Framework: A Support System for Collaboration and Analysis Chapter 2: Collaborative Inquiry: Roles of Principal, Teachers, and Teacher Leader in a Multi-age school Part II – Culture-Building Chapter 3: A Community of Learners: Building a Caring and Trusting Environment for All Students Chapter 4: Building a Multi-age School Culture – Elements to Consider Part III – The Learning Process Chapter 5: Instructional Components for a Multi-age Program Chapter 6: Teaching Reading and Mathematics to Multi-age Learners Chapter 7: Curriculum Cycles, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Other Effective Strategies Part IV – Assessments and Systemic Change Chapter 8. Assessment Strategies for the Multi-age Classroom Chapter 9: Improving the Program with Evidence from Practice Chapter 10: Multi-age Learning Community Professional Development Plan Appendix A: Multi-age Learning Community (MAC) Program Elements and Strategies: Principal Walkthrough Checklist AppendixB: Multi-age Learning Community (MAC) School Action Plan Appendix C: Multi-age Curriculum Map Appendix D: Multi-age Learning Community Lesson Plan Format Appendix E: Multi-age Coaching Log Appendix F: Multi-age Class Field Notes Form Appendix G: Classroom Observation Checklist – Multiage Learning Community Classroom Appendix H: Multi-age Learning Community Teaching Journal

About the Author :
Dr. Barbara Cozza is presently a professor and assistant chairperson at St. John’s University, in the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership. Her mission is to transform schools into effective learning communities where all students can achieve on high levels.

Review :
This is a must read for anyone who is looking to effectuate real change in any K-12 school system. Through Dr. Cozza's deep understanding of the research and value of a MAC (Multi-age Learning Community), the reader walks away with practical knowledge and guidance to finally transform learning in the schoolhouse so all children can reach their true potential. Cozza makes the case that multi-age classrooms are an effective and cost-effective way to increase personalization for students and further the cause of school reform at scale. Essential reading for students, teachers, parents, and school leaders. The Multiage Learning Community in Action is a clear and concise framework for embarking on the journey of multi-age learning in our schools. It blends collaborative cultures, instructional practices, and backward design in curriculum planning to reach the developmentally appropriate needs of all students. Barbara Cozza provides a functional framework that takes educators on a transformative journey. A must read for all educators, policymakers and parents.