Effective multigrade teaching starts with careful lesson preparation

(KPL)The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), with support from Australia through the Basic Education Quality and Access in the Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program, has launched a new Teacher Development Video focused on improving multigrade teaching.

The video, produced by the Research Institute of Educational Sciences (RIES), demonstrates how to effectively plan and deliver lessons when teaching multiple grade levels in the same classroom.

Strategies to keep all students actively engaged throughout the lesson

Over one third of primary classes are taught in multigrade settings in the Lao PDR, with a variety of grade combinations and some cases of more than two grades being taught at once. Recent declines in teacher workforce numbers are making multigrade classrooms more common.

Despite how widespread multigrade teaching is, many teachers still face significant challenges in planning and delivering multigrade lessons. Even experienced teachers can struggle to keep both grades engaged, ensure all students reach their learning objectives, and manage classroom time effectively.

The video production team on location at the school

To support teachers to master effective multigrade teaching techniques a new Teacher Development Video (TDV 26) has been developed which guides teachers through the process of planning and then delivering multigrade lessons. TDV 26 brings to life the practical guidance in the complementary Multigrade Teaching Teacher Support Pack (TSP 10) by showing what good multigrade teaching looks like in a real classroom. The goal is to help teachers visualise and reflect on each stage of teaching a multigrade lesson, so they can start making changes in their own practice.

Preparing for another take during classroom filming

 “Multigrade teaching requires extra preparation and flexibility. Teachers need to adapt lessons, manage student activities carefully, and make sure both grades are learning. This new video offers simple and effective techniques that teachers can use right away. Feedback from teachers collected through monitoring visits indicates that teachers appreciate these videos as professional development tools because they are easy to follow and directly relevant to their work in the classroom,” Ajan Outhit Thipmany, Deputy Director General of RIES, explained.

“Multigrade teaching is challenging for teachers, especially in remote areas, but it’s a reality in many classrooms across the country and therefore a priority for teacher support,” said Vanessa Hegarty, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy. “Australia is proud to support the Ministry of Education and Sports in helping teachers strengthen their multigrade teaching approach. This new video is a great example of what effective resources for teachers should be - it's short, clear, and practical.”

Teachers can seek support from the Internal Pedagogical Support team when needed

The video features a real primary classroom in the Lao PDR with a teacher delivering a multigrade lesson from introduction to conclusion, using a Grade 4-5 Lao Language lesson plan example. Viewers can see clear explanations and live classroom footage that demonstrate how to alternate focus between two grades, how to use independent activities to keep one group engaged while teaching the other group, and how to assess students effectively during the lesson.

The lesson plan featured in the video, along with lesson plan guidance, templates and other multigrade lesson plans is accessible to all teachers in a dedicated online file sharing application.

Two Pedagogical Advisors share tips with the audience

Key techniques shown in the video include: Using a shared introduction to engage both grades at the start; adapting activities from the Teacher Guides so one grade can work independently while the teacher instructs the other; making and using simple teaching and learning resources, such as flashcards or images, to make learning more active; alternating between teacher-led and student-led activities to keep all students busy and learning; using the lesson plan and Teacher Guides throughout the lesson to stay on track and meet objectives; and including assessment as part of classroom delivery. The techniques described in the video are not only useful for Lao Language lessons but can also be applied in other subjects like English and Science and the Environment, especially when the topics for the two grades align.

 “In the video, teachers are invited to reflect on their own multigrade lessons and think about what they can improve. It encourages teachers to share their challenges and successes with colleagues, observe each other’s lessons, and continue developing their skills,” Ajan Outhit noted.

TDV 26 is now available on ESTV – Education and Sports TV channel on Lao Satellite 8, on Khang Panya Lao, and on the ວິດີໂອສໍາລັບການພັດທະນາຄູ Teacher Development Videos YouTube channel.

With over 5 million views and 26,000 subscribers, the Teacher Development Videos YouTube channel has become a trusted resource for Lao teachers. Launched in 2019 by MoES with support from Australia through the BEQUAL program, it offers videos and audio materials that support teachers in using the new primary curriculum and active learning methods.

“By making multigrade teaching more practical and achievable, I hope this new video will help teachers feel more confident and better equipped to meet the needs of all their students—no matter how many grades are in the classroom” concluded Ms Vanessa.

Link to watch the video: https://youtu.be/9Hd9GbPhVGI?si=h62csY9F9yDobAua

KPL