ELECTIVE – TEACHING MULTIGRADE CLASSES

Instructor: Michelle Ann Solis Malalis

Student’s Name: ____________________

CHAPTER 2: LESSON 1
ORGANIZING THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
A Multigrade class is composed of learners with different grade levels inside a single
classroom handled by one teacher. That being the case, there can be varied activities going on
simultaneously in a multigrade classroom. Some learners might be working on a group project, some
might be having a discussion with the teacher, and others might be doing independent work. The task
of the teacher is to organize and manage the classroom such that, with minimal interruption, these
varied activities can happen. This can be a challenging task; however, the outcome is worthwhile for it
can help achieve favorable results and minimize the occurrence of classroom problems.
In this chapter, we will discuss how to organize and manage a multigrade classroom. This
include a discussion on organizing the physical environment, managing students; behavior, managing
instructional time, organizing and managing groups, and preparing the curriculum for teaching
multigrade classes.

LET’S BEGIN
Compare the classrooms in the pictures below.

WE ARE ON OUR WAY

1. How do these classrooms differ?
2. Which do you think is more likely a multigrade classroom? Why do you say so?
3. What can you expect to see in a multigrade classroom?
LET'S DIG DEEPER
The physical environment refers to the overall design and layout of a given classroom and its
learning areas. Its preparation requires organizing the space, furniture, and resources in order to
maximize learning opportunities and students' involvement. The organization of the physical
environment includes creating a floor plan, arranging the tables, chairs and other furniture and
materials, displaying of visual materials, and others which are related to designing and arranging the
classroom. In a monograde classroom, the desks are usually lined up facing the blackboard. However,
this setup may not work well in a multigrade classroom. The teacher may find difficulty to conduct
differentiated activities if the classroom is set up like this. Therefore, there is a need to organize the
space and arrange the furniture and materials in order to establish areas suitable for the activities the
teacher plans to conduct.
The essential areas in a multigrade classroom are as follows:
a. Group Instruction Area. This is where the class discussion and group work happen. The
teacher works with a group or groups of students to fine tune their learning.
b. Individual Work Area. This is where students do independent work. Students stay in this area
to get ready for the next subject or activity.
c. Teacher Work Area. This is where the teacher plans and prepares the lesson. Important
records and documents are usually placed in this area.
d. Additional Areas. You may find that, in addition to the areas we consider required, other areas
are necessary to cater the needs of the students. Some of these are the reading area, arts and
crafts area, resources and materials area and personal hygiene area.
Although there is no single "best" way to set up a classroom, there are some general guidelines that
may be applied to most multigrade classrooms (Hill, L., 2002):

• Divide your classroom space to different areas based on the activities that will possibly occur.
When doing this, consider learners' age and size differences.
• Allocate an area for teacher-controlled resources.
• Chairs, desks or tables can be grouped together for collaborative work.
• Make use of low cupboards, cubbyholes, or partitions to divide the room into different areas.
Be sure that if you do this, you can see all the learners in the classroom.
• Review your floor plan considering the class traffic patterns. With minimal disturbance,
learners must be able to move from one location to another.
• Be ready to transform your classroom when needed.
Here are some examples of classroom floor plans:
FIGURE 1: Self-Contained Classroom (Organized by Areas of Activity)

FIGURE 2: Self-Contained Classroom (Organized for Cooperative Learning)

FIGURE 3: Comprehensive Classroom Layout

FIGURE 4: Self-Contained (Organized for Flexibility)

The actual organization of the physical environment of a multigrade classroom will depend on
the space available, furniture type, the subject or topic being taught, and the teaching strategies used.
A multigrade classroom should not remain in a fixed position.