Tim Laner

Tim Laner, a K-1-2 multiage teacher at Buckman Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, describes how a multiage program provides an opportunity to develop close relationships between students, teachers, and families. Excerpted from a videotaped interview with Tim Laner (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 1998).

"What I appreciate about it is that you get to develop a relationship with the family over a period of three years, and it's not a matter of saying, 'you're in my room for nine months and then you're out of here.' You really get to know the children, know the families, you know how to approach a child based on past behaviors and what works for them and what doesn't, whereas every nine months you have new kids and a new situation, the teacher has to relearn why does Billy do this, why does Susan do this and oh it's because of this or remember last year this happened. So this approach gives you the opportunity to develop a relationship over time with the kids and the family."

This Critical Issue was written by Debra Johnson, a freelance writer who also is a multiage resource teacher at Lincoln School in Mundelein, Illinois, in collaboration with Cheryl L. Fox, K-12 districtwide curriculum director, Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Schools.

Date posted: 1998