We are Gloria Rich and Kendra Hanzlik. Our classroom is located at Puesta del Sol Elementary in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. This is a small city near Albuquerque. Our class consists of first, second, and third grade students, with a 2 to 1 ratio of regular education students to special education students. Both regular and special education children are a part of the classroom, and are not grouped solely by this distinction.
Children work in whole group, small group, and independent settings, depending on individual needs.
Children may remain with the same teacher for a number of years. A multiage inclusion program is designed to meet the educational needs of all children at their personal level, whether the child be at, above, or below a specific rigid grade level. Younger children generally benefit from exposure to older peers with a greater degree of educational and personal experience. Older children generally benefit from the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice through sharing with other children. The benefits to students increase the longer they are in a multiage setting.