Training Teachers in Mixed-age Classrooms: effects of a staff development programme

A quasi-experimental, treatment-control group investigation was designed to test the effects of the staff development programme Dealing with Mixed-age Classes. Research findings from mixed-age glasses, effective teaching and classroom management and organisation were translated into teacher behaviours. Following seven three-hour workshops teachers in mixed-aged classes implemented self-designed plans to increase selected research-derived teaching behaviours and pupils' time-on-task. Based on pre- and post-training classroom observations, a significant treatment effect was found for pupils' time-on-task levels in mixed-age classrooms and for teacher behaviours regarding effective instruction, lesson design and execution, classroom organisation and management.