Tutors, meaning 1 on 1.
Also, "leveled" classes would mean that after an initial phase of seeing where each student was at, there would be a couple different classes for the same class, each geared to a different style of teaching that catered to their needs. Not only would this benefit student A, but student B as well. It would also allow for more students to be added to the rosters and rotated through each level.
I'm thinking the idea would be that a large class for math, or whatever else, would accommodate a large volume of students. They would be tested and assigned to one of 3 levels in the particular math curriculum. Each class would be taught differently and at different speeds, focusing on the things that needed to be focused on. Periodic testing would be provided to ascertain whether a student could be moved up a level. The idea would be to have all students moved to level 3 for that class by the end of the school year.
It's basically mass tutoring.

gotcha, i totally misinterpreted 'leveled' classes. funny enough, that's how my high school was setup before it was deemed detrimental to the students to separate them.

Hmm, sounds like the John Cage method to parenting.

Open and close their bedroom door once every six years?

Our alternative program (within the public school system) had 60 students grades 1 - 6 in two merged classrooms (not divided) and had no formal activities in which we all participated. Rather, small groups of kids worked with the teacher or had different tasks we could do around the room.

I remember in 1st grade joining the 4th graders to learn about the base system for numbers...you know, the number eleven in base ten is expressed as 11 and in base 5 is...hmmm....21! Phew! I still remember.

We had worksheets to do when we were interested. I remember in 3rd grade doing a fractions worksheet involving coloring parts of balloons...and sniffing the organic compounds left on the photocopy.;)

We also brought in snakes from outside to learn about them and we built forts all over the classroom. No desks. Dispersed around the room were lots of interesting activities to play with to learn. It was like being at a science museum or interactive art museum all day!! I loved it and was always excited to go to school. Then later I hit the regular school system: desks all day, homework, tasks, assignments. Ugh.

That sums it up pretty well, I think!

nice, definitely sounds like an interesting learning environment to have been part of. gotta ask though, how many hippies were involved hahaha :p:

as for the whole base number systems i only learned that the first time i went to college as part of computer programming fundamentals, only base 2,8, and 16, but once you understand how one works you can apply it to any base number. can't imagine wrapping my head around that in grade 4 - doubt i'd be here if that were the case haha

Lots! ;)

(And yes, that was my shortest post ever. JUST for you!)

^ wow. i feel all special now :D

Well, I don't think it's your bedtime where you live, so I didn't want to put you to sleep by writing a super duper long post. ;)

If you *are* ever having sleep problems, just let me know...maybe I can write an essay on the beauty of the base system to send you into slumberland.