4/5 Multiage Program
MUD (Multiage United Democracy)
Glenburn, Maine
Mrs. Ecker & Mrs. Ohmart

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Established:  September 1994                        

Philosophy:  The goal of the 4/5 Multiage program is to create a classroom environment that meets the academic, social, and emotional needs of the students over a two year period.  The program strives to meet academic needs by occasionally placing students in instructional groupings for language arts that are based upon the skills and concepts that a student needs to learn, instead of grade level groupings.  A variety of instructional approaches are used to teach all subjects because students learn in different ways.  The 4/5 Multiage program is team taught which allows for two teachers to work together to know the students and recognize their individual academic, social and emotional needs.  This also allows for smaller group instruction.

Student Government:  In the fall of 1994, the 4/5 Multiage students wrote a constitution for the classroom.  This constitution provides for changes in the program using the three branches of government:  Legislative, executive, and judicial.  The students write bills to change different aspects of the program as well as to plan special events.  bills and amendments are debated and voted upon at the 4/5 Multiage weekly class meetings.  The Constitution and passed bills can be found on the "Class Government" page of this website.

Homework:  The students in the 4/5 Multiage program are assigned homework.  This allows students to finish assignments they haven't completed in school and allows reinforcement of concepts and skills.  Homework assignments also allow the parent to see how their child is progressing.  Completing homework and returning it to school encourages a sense of responsibility on the part of students.

Science and Social Studies:  The entire 4/5 Multiage class will be working together on each unit taught.  The units offered teach the outcomes of the Glenburn's science and social studies curriculum and are grouped around a theme.  One year the 4th grade curriculum is emphasized and the second year the 5th grade curriculum.

Math:  A few years ago the Glenburn School adopted the Everyday Math program.  At that time we decided that the students in the 4/5 Multiage needed to be grouped for math by their actual grade.  Mrs. Ohmart works with the fourth graders and Mrs. Ecker with the fifth graders.  Occasionally, due to the individual needs of a student, we have students who will work either with the grade above, the grade below, or at an accelerated pace.

Language Arts:  Reading is taught with a variety of methods and materials because various approaches will teach different skills and encourage students to be young readers.  The entire class reads the same book or tow books are offered and the students chose which one they would like to read.  This allows students to read similar materials so it can be discussed with their peers.  Vocabulary, word analysis, and comprehension are taught continually.  "Book Projects" assignments are done at home.  These encourage students to read independently in books of their own choosing.  This allows students to increase their independent reading skills and their abilities to choose appropriate books.  Students are taught writing through a process approach.  In this approach, students are encouraged to pre-write, or to think about a topic before they begin writing.  Once they begin to write the students are encouraged to write meaningful content and then revise and edit that content.  Assignments vary between student choice and teacher assignments.  Spelling, grammar and punctuation are incorporated into the language arts program.  Skills are continually assessed and small group mini-lessons will be taught as needed.

Spelling/Vocabulary:  This is presented in a variety of ways.  We do "entire group" instruction in vocabulary based on readings assigned in reading, science and social studies.  Frequently mispelled words are also done as a whole class.  Weekly spelling words are from the respective 4th and 5th grade spelling books that accompany the school's Reading Street series.

Our Multiage Program may be an option:
For the Child:

To provide a safe, secure environment with the same teachers and peers over a period of time.
 For the Parent:

To encourage strong, long term, home-school relationships.
 For the Teacher:

To have more than one year to know students, recognize individual needs, and allow time for children to develop academically.
To provide a learning environment where every child is both a learner and a teacher. To give parents a choice in their child's education. To build on ongoing relationship with the child, and the child's family, that continues over years,
rather than months.  This partnership is beneficial to the child's successful school experience.
To provide a "family" like learning  environment, where children will share a variety of experiences and age grouping. To provide an opportunity for parents to play an extended role in their child's learning.
 To have the opportunity to create the traditions of a "family" style classroom that fosters a community spirit that grows, and takes in the new students each fall.
To give students an opportunity to learn at their own pace, with growth-learning spurts occurring naturally, over a longer period of time. To have ongoing communciation with the teahcers through newsletters, website, and/or projects.
To provide the "gift of time" for all learners. To build self-esteem in your child, based on achievemnt, and the child's strengths being utilized to help others learn.

To allow the child to belong for a longer period of time, to the same peer group for support and encouragement.




Last Updated:  November 15, 2006