Warren School's past and future

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Frank Colangelo, a former principal of Warren School who retired in 1994. As I took him on a tour of Warren School, Mr. Colangelo shared his recollections from 22 years ago. The Kindergarten class used to be in what is now the 2nd grade classroom. Mrs. Woodington's reading room was the Science room back then. And the current library, with its inspirational MakerSpace and 3-D printer, was nonexistent.

As we reminisced, Mr. Colangelo told me that he'd heard about our quest to build a school-wide multiage program, and he wondered what all of the buzz was about. After all, multiage instruction is nothing new, and was commonplace during his tenure as principal. I have been thinking about this question a lot since Friday. Although it confirms that Warren School will return to its roots next year, providing multiage instruction for every student, it also makes me ponder. What is all of the buzz about?

Historically, multiage instruction is nothing new. I think that the buzz is occurring because our world is quite different than it was years ago. Like all of today's schools, we need to help our students master grade level standards that will prepare them for their future, when they may select jobs and careers that have not yet been invented. Like many schools, we teach the standards using best practices such as providing students with clear targets and goals for learning, sharing immediate and specific feedback, teaching students in small groups, encouraging collaborative group work, and allowing students plenty of time to think creatively and critically.

I think that the buzz is about how we will teach a standards based curriculum within multiage classrooms. Our focus will shift subtly from teaching the curriculum to teaching each individual child. With such a wide range of ages within one classroom, it becomes impossible to expect all students to master the same skills at the same time. Instead, children are grouped flexibly and taught the next set of skills that they are ready for. Students who need it are given more time to master the standards. Students who have mastered certain standards have their learning extended. All students are challenged at their level, alongside children who may be older or younger than they are. This is what excites the Warren School staff, and makes us look forward to next year when all of our students will have the opportunity to learn in multiage classrooms. We will be returning to our roots, while at the same time preparing our students for an exciting and unknown future.