Hazel Crowe
My name is Hazel Crowe. I am the Junior and Senior Infants Teacher in St. Peter’s National School. I recently graduated from the Church of Ireland Centre in DCU with a degree in Primary School Teaching, where I specialised in Multigrade Teaching. I currently live on a farm in County Westmeath and enjoy all things outdoors!
So far, I have had the pleasure of teaching many different multigrade classes in small schools across counties Meath, Westmeath and Dublin and most recently completed placements in St. Peter’s National School.
I love to involve active learning and technology in my teaching. I really look forward to using the Aistear framework with my class and helping children to develop their creative, imaginative, social, literacy and numeracy skills through play. Outside our classroom we also have a fantastic school garden, where the children can explore
and learn about the many plants and minibeasts that grow and live there. I love integrating ICT into all subject areas, and we are lucky to have an Interactive Whiteboard, iPads and Beebots in our class.
St. Peter’s is a very welcoming and special school community, where all children are valued. One of the best things about St. Peter’s National School is that everyone knows one another and there is a great sense of belonging. I really look forward to the whole school assemblies, where the school community comes together and we get to know one another and celebrate our successes.
So far, I have had the pleasure of teaching many different multigrade classes in small schools across counties Meath, Westmeath and Dublin and most recently completed placements in St. Peter’s National School.
I love to involve active learning and technology in my teaching. I really look forward to using the Aistear framework with my class and helping children to develop their creative, imaginative, social, literacy and numeracy skills through play. Outside our classroom we also have a fantastic school garden, where the children can explore
and learn about the many plants and minibeasts that grow and live there. I love integrating ICT into all subject areas, and we are lucky to have an Interactive Whiteboard, iPads and Beebots in our class.
St. Peter’s is a very welcoming and special school community, where all children are valued. One of the best things about St. Peter’s National School is that everyone knows one another and there is a great sense of belonging. I really look forward to the whole school assemblies, where the school community comes together and we get to know one another and celebrate our successes.
MANAGING A MULTI-GRADE CLASSROOM
A TEACHER'S PERSPECTIVE
When the Induction for the new infants takes place every year in June a common theme is “How do you manage with 3 classes? “How do you differentiate between the 3 classes?” Are the pupil’s needs being met?”
One thing I will say that has helped me over the years is experience. I have taught multi-grade now for nearly 16 years and I see many benefits to this setting. I think it helps to build the self-esteem of both the younger and older pupils – the younger pupils feel encouraged and supported and the older pupils gain confidence and maturity in guiding the younger children through their learning. In a multi-grade setting we do a lot of station/group work and through this activity learning is reinforced. We also have 2 full-time support teachers to provide support in the classroom where needed during station activities.
Teaching in a multi-grade setting also helps to develop social and independent learning skills as a result of responding to different age and ability levels. In teaching different levels in a whole class setting, all pupils are exposed to new challenges and opportunities to acquire different skills.
One thing I will say that has helped me over the years is experience. I have taught multi-grade now for nearly 16 years and I see many benefits to this setting. I think it helps to build the self-esteem of both the younger and older pupils – the younger pupils feel encouraged and supported and the older pupils gain confidence and maturity in guiding the younger children through their learning. In a multi-grade setting we do a lot of station/group work and through this activity learning is reinforced. We also have 2 full-time support teachers to provide support in the classroom where needed during station activities.
Teaching in a multi-grade setting also helps to develop social and independent learning skills as a result of responding to different age and ability levels. In teaching different levels in a whole class setting, all pupils are exposed to new challenges and opportunities to acquire different skills.
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