"Teachers need to move away from a teacher-centered classroom with emphasis on covering the content and towards a learner-centered classroom with the emphasis on students uncovering understanding of this content," says Larry Buschman, who teaches a mixed-age classroom of first-, second- and third-graders at Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson. At his school, Mr. Buschman has initiated a peer-coaching program, implemented several cross-grade-level mentoring activities and established a portfolio assessment program that teaches students to observe and monitor their own performance. Mr. Buschman believes that a mixed-age setting best meets the learning, social and emotional needs of students. "Collaborative tutoring provides younger students with models and exposes older students to service learning skills," he explains. In 1995, the National Science Foundation awarded Mr. Buschman a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.
1977 Oregon State University, B.A.
