Mixed-aging
Amplify utilizes mixed-aging —grouping children in which the children’s age range is larger than a year. In a mixed-age classroom, children stay with the same teachers and friends for an extended period of time. It represents:
- The values of the Reggio approach of learning from peers
- A more natural relationship model
- The ability to optimize the educational potential of all learners
Mixed-aging promotes a more peaceful classroom environment and allows:
- More intimate relationships between the child, peers, and the teacher
- A classroom family; it mimics a family with children of multiple ages so everyone gets what they need when they need it
- Younger children to be motivated by and model their older peers
- Older friends to take on leadership and mentoring roles
- The confidence of all children to be enriched by the interdependent relationships
- Better teacher-to-student ratios than traditional groupings
To research more about the benefits of employing mixed-age groupings in a classroom setting, visit the following resources: