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Across the grade divide

Pupils of varying skill levels move between four grades in a "community" learning experiment at Inverness Primary School.

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE
Published December 1, 2005

INVERNESS - There can be a significant range in student ability within class levels. Some students need to be challenged lest they become bored. Others struggle. Still others operate well where they are.

With this in mind, Inverness Primary School is trying something new this year. It has created two "vertical teams," each with four teachers in grades one through four.

With this setup, a first-grader who excels in math can join a second-grade class during that subject. Likewise, a third-grader who may need to review or strengthen a reading skill might "go back to an earlier class to pick up a skill while mentoring the younger students," said Valerie Acosta, who teaches fourth grade.

No students move during social studies, "because it's so material specific," she said.

"It works well," principal Marlise Bushman said. "It's not our creation, but it allows easier movement of students across grade levels."

Teachers Tina Adams, first grade; Sally Taylor, second grade; Marissa Ball, third grade; and Teresa Russell, fourth grade, make up the A vertical team. Kristin Stringer, first grade; Lori Casalvieri, second grade; Jessica Barkley, third grade; and Acosta, fourth grade, are on the B vertical team.

The movement of students is based on assessments and observations, Barkley said. Also, the second- and fourth-graders pair as writing buddies. "The younger students go to the older ones, who read their writing and help them gently improve it," Acosta said.

Coaching younger students doesn't necessarily just come naturally to the older children, though. "They had to be taught to do that," Casalvieri said. "And it makes them better writers."

The program also encourages camaraderie among the children. "We've tried to make it more of a community," Stringer said.

"These teams do things together throughout the year," Bushman said. "The first-graders know the fourth-grade teacher."

"The kids say hello to each other," Casalvieri said.

The program requires careful class scheduling, and the team teachers realize that the rest of the school had to adjust to make it happen.

"We really appreciate it," Casalvieri said.

"It's working for us," Acosta said. "We see the benefits."

[Last modified December 1, 2005, 01:07:16]