Andover Elementary School, Andover
Here at Andover Elementary, where we are multi-age, we send our 2/3 class all together to all specials. It has seemed to work fine for the most part, right know our biggest single grade-level is our outgoing 2nd/incoming 3rd graders, so the specialists have tailored their standards to meet that. Sometimes there are some developmental areas that need to be taken into consideration and accommodated for, but usually it works out fine.
Bowdoinham Community School, Bowdoinham
We transitioned to three, 2/3 classrooms two years ago. Students start the day in “homebases” of mixed 2nd and 3rd graders. Then we flexibly group for Reading, Writing, and Math throughout the day. Students remain in homebases for some science and social studies.
After a year of doing specials with the homebases too, we realized it put too much of a strain on specials teachers because the VPA and P.E standards are currently grouped K-2 and 3-5. At the same time, curricula were already aligned to support those splits (e.g. 3rd and 4th graders learning recorder; 5th graders learning guitar, etc.) So, this past year we kept straight-grade specials groups. We took all the second graders and split them into two groups, same with third, and the same is true with our fourth and fifth graders. It means more teaching periods for those teachers, but smaller groups. Overall it was preferable because kids got the curriculum they needed, and the specialists preferred that to an extra prep period in the week.
Burchard Dunn Elementary School, New Gloucester
Burchard Dunn Elementary School in New Gloucester has 9 multi-age classrooms consisting of 3rd and 4th grade students. The class attends specials together as a class. They are not split by grade level.
Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick
Here at Coffin School we’ve got four Grade 1/2 multiage classrooms. They go to specials as a classroom and only break out by grades for math workshop.
Durham Community School, Durham
We have done it both ways. We had a 1/2 multi age go as their own class and we have also divided the students out and sent them with their grade level. I think when it is younger than 3rd grade they go as a class as it is a part of the day that can build community.
James H Bean Elementary School, Sidney
For 2 years students went to specials together and followed the upper grade curriculum (i.e. a 1/2 class would do the 2nd grade curriculum the first year and the first-grade curriculum the second year). Teachers did not like this format.
Miles Lane School, Bucksport
We have had that situation several times here at Miles Lane School. Those multi-graded classes go to specials together in our school.
Newport/Plymouth Elementary School, Newport
We currently have no multi-age classrooms, but we did two years ago, and it was a 2/3. Our students went to the specials together.
Leeds Central School, Leeds
At Leeds Central School we have combination classrooms and they always attend specials as one class. The specialists sometimes have to make adjustments but it works well enough.
Lubec Elementary School, Lubec
Lubec Elementary School sends the combined classes together. Sometimes there may be an Ed. Tech depending on behavior or special needs.
SAD #27, Fort Kent
I have seen it down both ways. Really works best when they go as separate classes as the academic needs can be tailored for each level. It takes planning time away from the teacher with that. Much depends on the overall size of the school, class, or grade. Is this the only combined class in school? Did they combine due to a bubble or bust grade level? Is there another 2nd or 3rd grade? All factors to consider
Southport Central School, Southport
In Bucksport, our 1-3 classes did all specials together, however in Southport we’re our numbers were smaller my 1-3 class did not go together. K-1 then 2-3 had specials together. It really depends on numbers and what is best for the students!!
Tremont Elementary School, Tremont
As both a classroom teacher of a multi-grade classroom and now as an administrator with multi-grade classrooms, my experience has been that the whole class attends specials together.
Windsor School, Windsor
It’s a scheduling nightmare to split them up. In the many schools in which I have worked, the multi-age classes have attended specials together.
Young School, Saco
Our multi-grade students, when we were using that model, attended specials together as a single unit.