Importance of Processing

As a classroom teacher, I have been doing cross-age learning (we call it "Teamwork" at our school) for 12 years; as the 4th grade teacher in a 1st/4th grade class pairing, as the 2nd grade teacher in a 2nd/5th pairing, and as a 3rd grade teacher in a Kindergarten/3rd grade pairing.

We partner every child from the older class with a younger child, sometimes needing to make partnerships of three if there are not the same number of children in each class. The partners, whom we call "Buddies," work together all year. Some years, we make a few changes in partnerships.

Each week, students look forward to teamwork. For most students, their buddy becomes very important to them. Often, “Big Buddies” will make Valentines on their own for their “Little Buddies.” Some years, a buddy has been the most important social connection for a student in my class, and teamwork the time in the week where the child felt most confident, successful, and connected. This year, a very social 3rd grader in my class was the buddy of one of the school secretary’s daughters. After a few months, the 3rd grader would stop in to see the secretary because of her buddy connection.

The most important part of cross-age learning is allowing time to process the teamwork just after the buddies’ session! I ask, “How did Buddies go today?” Students reply and often we get in to why? When problems occur, other students offer suggestions. Once in a while, I’ll make a suggestion. Then, the next week, follow up: “Did you try _____? How did it work?”

The process time takes 5 minutes. Sometimes you will need 10 or 15. This is invaluable. Students are asked to be working in a teaching role or a leadership role. The discussions allow time to process their own social skills and make improvements.

In my experience working as the little buddies’ teacher, I see a big difference in the attitudes and skill of the big buddies. Teachers who spend discussion time have students who are more skilled and successful. As a big buddies’ teacher this year, I got sloppy about the post discussion because of a scheduling crunch. I saw the enthusiasm for the teamwork dropping, so added discussion time. The students were having trouble with their little buddies not focusing. We cut buddy time short by 5 minutes, added the processing time, and enthusiasm went way up again!

As a teacher, it is great to work a bit with another age group. I especially enjoy teamwork when the other teacher is a friend.

Planning can sometimes get hard when our schedules get very busy. We try to incorporate a project related to the little buddies or big buddies are studying. We do some reading or art projects: Presidents’ Day, Christmas & Hanukah, Memorial Day, etc. Just reading with buddies we do every 4-6 weeks. It is always a great one to do in the really busy times. Big buddies often will ask for a couple of project they remember doing as a little buddy. If find it helpful to sit down for 20-30 minutes and design 4-8 weeks worth of 30-minute buddy times.

-Kim O

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Lesson Plans:
Teamwork - Language Arts - ESL - Mathematics - Science - Social Studies - The Arts -PE