Training Modules on Multigrade Teaching for Multigrade Teachers in 
                        Sri Lanka  
                           
                       Introduction  
                           
                           
        Hello! Welcome to Teacher Training modules on multigrade teaching. You may be a 
        teacher who has to take responsibility of two, three, four or even five grades at the same 
        time. This is quite a challenge.    
         
        You may or may not have had received some training in multigrade teaching. You may or 
        may not be teaching in a multigrade class on a daily basis. However, if you are a teacher 
        who has to handle more than one grade within a timetabled period this working through 
        these modules will be useful. As a multigrade teacher you may be facing many 
        challenges. Very few attempts are made to train teachers for multigrade teaching. You 
        may have used or posses the Distance teacher education module and/or other training 
        materials given by NIE.  
         
        This set of modules will be of use to you to improve your quality of teaching. If children 
        are to learn effectively in multigrade settings, teachers need to be well trained, well 
        resourced and hold positive attitudes to multigrade teaching 
         
        Teachers in monograde classes also would be able to use these modules to organise their 
        teaching to suit the different ability levels of students in the same grade. 
         
        This training package for multigrade teaching is made up of three modules. The titles of 
        the modules are as follows: 
         
        Module 1: The concept of multigrade teaching: A generic training module 
         
        Module 2:  The context of Multigrade teaching:  Reflecting on the challenges and 
        needs analysis 
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        Module 3: Learning and teaching of mathematics in multigrade/multilevel settings 
        adopting a learner and materials centred approach  
         
        This training material has been designed to be used either during in-service training 
        sessions or as self-study materials. Each of these modules outlines the sub topics related 
        to each module title and a series of learning activities. Please start with Module 1 and 
        work through to Module 3. We hope you enjoy using these modules. 
         
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
         
         
         
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                        Module 1 
                            
          The concept of multigrade teaching: A generic training module  
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        1.0 Introduction  
         
        The first module in this series introduces you to the concept of multigrade teaching. You 
        may be either a teacher who has been engaging in multigrade teaching for a number of 
        years or a teacher who was recently recruited to a multigrade school. You might also be a 
        monograde teacher who has to address multigrade situations at times. Nevertheless, this 
        module will help you to understand the concept of multigrade teaching. 
         
         
        1.1 Learning outcomes 
         
        With the completion of the Module 1 you will have  
         
          ¾  understood the meaning of multigrade teaching  
          ¾  recognized the prevalence of multigrade teaching in the world 
          ¾  considered the conditions under which multigrade teaching becomes a necessity  
          ¾  paid special attention to local prevalence of multigrade teaching  
          ¾  assessed the need for multigrade teaching in Sri Lanka and in your school  
          ¾  considered the significance of improving the quality of multigrade teaching  
         
         
        1.2 Meaning of multigrade teaching  
         
        The term ‘multigrade teaching’ generally refers to a teaching situation where a single 
        teacher has to take responsibility for teaching pupils across more than one curriculum 
        grade within a timetabled period. Schools with multigrade classes are referred to as 
        multigrade schools.  
         
        In most of the world’s education systems, formal education is expected to be imparted in 
        a monograde teaching environment, where one teacher is responsible for a single 
        curriculum grade within a timetabled period. 
         
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