Mix of years

Mixed year groups are a Freinet pedagogical form of organization. As the understanding of learning is characterized by a positive attitude towards heterogeneity in the sense of diversity, one can consciously benefit from this in mixed-grade learning groups. In daycare centers and in adult education, mixed year groups are a matter of course. In schools, classes are often mixed in groups of 2 or 3, e.g. a mixture of grades 1-2 and 3-4 as well as grades 5-7 and 8-10. This form of mixing means that the process of puberty is constructively distributed between the younger and older grades, particularly in the case of adolescents. In this way, the learners take responsibility for the younger ones, but can also benefit from the help of the older ones in times of transition.