I'll be teaching 1-3 next year. I've taught multi-age before and LOVED it. I've taught Everyday Math before. I've never taught EDM to multi-age before. Any advice with such a time-intensive program like EDM? Last time I taught multi-age, I was given a LOT of freedom to teach with whatever materials I wanted, so this will be a challenge! I'd love advice and stories- good or challenging!
I couldn't do it last year. There was not enough time. (I do not like EDM all that much). I taught 9 grade levels but my aide and myself broke it them into to blocks she taught math to one group and I did the other group. So I either had 5th to 8th grade or K to 4th grade. Will you have an aide? If you do I would break them into ability groups (not grade groups). That way you can focus on what they need. I would teach the lesson (usually takes 20 minutes?, not sure for anything above K), than let them work independently and move onto the next group. I would only have three groups if you can pull it off! I guess I am not much help.
I'm not a particular fan of EDM either, so there's that. There is an aide that floats between the two rooms, so I will have to see if I get him/her at that time. I am meeting with the teacher tomorrow who taught in the position this past school year. I will have a better idea after tomorrow, but I have to say that I am most concerned about math. Many of the other subjects can be differentiated with just a little work, but a math program like EDM sounds daunting for multi-age.
Like I said I couldn't pull it off at all last year. I went up in the attic and got out the older math books. And guess what my 3rd to 8th graders all passed their state testing.
I'm hoping I can pull "themes" and teach that way- one large(r) lesson and then smaller mini-lessons to ability groups. When I taught multi-age before, we RARELY cracked a book. 7/9 third graders passed their state tests- and it was their first year of instruction in English. Like I said before, and I know you know, multi-age math instruction CAN work, but EDM just isn't set up for it!
No it's not at all. Maybe you can try and match the themes and do the large lesson but it might be lost on the those lower kids. When you go ask the teacher how she did it.
EDM was really tough to work through with the range of abilities within my 5th grade class. I cannot imagine how you would do this with three grade levels. We HAD to stick with the EDM program. Each lesson is designed to take 60 minutes. I volunteered to pilot in the fall. So far it looks like Math Expressions is the first choice to replace EDM. Does anyone use it? Tell me all the negatives!!
When I have had a three year spread in my multi-age classes, I teach the middle level of the math (second, for you) and then work up and down to differentiate. When I have two levels, my TA and I each take a group (alternating practice and instruction). I hope you have an aid. I would do something like this: calendar math from the first grade- whole group second grade lessons third grade games and skills for enrichment for the older group.. but I don't know. I use a different program now. I used EDM in fourth only.
I found out I *won't* have the aide during math. I'm going to see if I can switch my schedule around. We'll see. Last year, the teacher taught 3rd grade for 45 minutes and then had another 45 minutes for BOTH 1st and 2nd. I have all summer to think of alternatives though. Sooner or later, I'll find something that pleases both the school district and myself.
