Tiverton elementary pilot program combines grades in one class

A pilot program at Pocasset Elementary School that has both first- and second-graders in a classroom is new for the district, but not new to education.

TIVERTON — A pilot program at Pocasset Elementary School that has both first- and second-graders in a classroom is new for the district, but not new to education.

Superintendent Peter Sanchioni said it was an “ideal educational solution” to solve the problem at Pocasset, where there are more first- and second-graders than can fit into the current number of those grade-level classrooms, but not enough of each to hire new teachers for each grade.

It also solves the problem of not having to redistrict, so families are not split between schools, which has happened in the past and created hardships, school Principal Deanne Reilly said.

There are now two first-grade classrooms, two second-grade classrooms and one multi-age or multi-grade classroom.

Sanchioni said multi-grade classrooms are research-based.

Reilly said she can attest to the success of having students of two age levels in the same classroom. She did it for four years in a previous district in which she worked, she said, and found that it helps promote learning for students who have social-emotional issues.

“I saw my students grow,” Reilly said of first-graders who were “some of the low of the low” latching onto a second-grader. “The first-grader soared,” she said, “and they’re now in the top 10 percent of their class.”

There is a lot of collaboration and self-development in the classroom, and students learn conflict resolution and grow in character. There is shared and guided reading and writing, but also a lot of small-group work, she said.

Some in the audience at last week’s School Committee meeting had some reservations, including questions about how grade-level subjects like science would be handled because some concepts are taught in first grade and others in second grade.

That will take some time to work out, Sanchioni said.

Music teacher Renee Bond suggested looking at the itinerant programs like music, art and health. She said she teaches certain concepts to first-graders and others to second-graders, “so second-graders will be getting a repeat,” she said.

Resident Madeline O’Dell asked why some districts that had multi-grade classrooms have discontinued them. No one answered.

“I don’t see the real big benefit if it’s not going to continue,” O’Dell said.

David Paull said he has a child in the new multi-grade classroom and trusts that it will be a successful pilot. But he did say he has some concerns about logistics.

School Committee Vice Chairwoman Sally Black, who is a retired special-education teacher, said she had multi-grade classrooms throughout her career.

“The ones that were not doing as well came along and they all rose together,” Black said.