The single-grade class comprised of one grade of students who progress through a set-curriculum is a traditional model of classroom seen in many schools. There have been numerous studies done on the advantages for children in a multiage classroom compared to a single-age classroom.

In the article " On the Merits of Multiage" David Pratt examined the social and academic benefits of a multiage approach over a single-grade approach. In reference to the traditional classrooms, he said, "They must be questioned if they stimulate rivalry,aggression, and isolation, for no apparent advantage" (pg 4).


Lillian Katz wrote that "Single- age groups seem to create enormous normative pressures on the children and the teacher to expect all the children to possess the same knowledge and skills.There is no evidence to show that a group of children who are all within a twelve-month age range can be expected to learn the same things, in the same way, on the same day, at the same time" ("The Benefits of Mixed-Age Groupings").

Even with all the research which indicates that students in a multiage classroom do as well or better academically and even better socially,there are many questions regarding whether a multiage class can truly work better than a single-age grouping; it is hard to get away from a method used in so many classrooms for so many years. View the video to the right to learn more about the positive aspects of social skill-building and friendship building which exists in a multiage environment.