MACC (Multi Age Cluster Class)

Multi-Age Cluster Class, commonly referred to in Coquitlam as Middle Age Cluster Class is originally a Vancouver-based gifted education program meant to enrich the regular curriculum for students in grades 4-7 commonly referred to as MACC. The admission process involves several steps where a child's suitability for the program is evaluated. A student is referred by their home school, challenge-class teacher, gifted case-manager, or parent for consideration for admission. Children seen as suitable candidates are invited to attend the "Pre-MACC Experience", a two-day session held at a Vancouver School Board school or a Coquitlam School District school if in Coquitlam. After that, students who are seen as candidates are invited to spend one-two days in the classroom at the school they would potentially attend. Offers of admission are based on this final step. A certain I.Q. score is not needed to be accepted into the program, but instead the student must have a gifted mind and be able to "think outside the box." The program emphasizes the creation of lifelong learners.

Location

Currently, there are three schools with MACC classes in Vancouver, British Columbia that are administered by the Vancouver School Board (VSB). Tecumseh Elementary School and Queen Mary Elementary School offer a grade 4/5 and a grade 6/7 MACC class. General Gordon Elementary School currently offers a 5/6/7 French Immersion MACC class. There used to be two additional MACC classes at Lord Nelson Elementary School and Sir William Osler Elementary School, but they both merged into David Livingstone Elementary School, which was taken away due to budget cuts to the VSB in June 2010. However, there are other MACC programs outside Vancouver, such as Berkshire Park Elementary School, Hyland Elementary School, and Bayridge Elementary School in Surrey, which is in the Lower Mainland region. All three Surrey programs are grades 5-7. Surrey is considering adding a high-school program. There also used to be a high school MACC program in Kitsilano Secondary School, but they changed it because the 4 pillars of the MACC (Autonomous Learning, Literacy, Numeracy and Project-Based Learning) were not sufficient for the number of subjects taught in High School. Coquitlam has two MACC class equipped schools, namely Citadel Middle School and Hillcrest Middle School.

Autonomous Learning

The word "autonomous" means to be independent, self-governing, efficient and to be able to learn by yourself and be a self-motivated learner. This is a very important life-skill that is emphasized in this program. The students need to be autonomous, as they are not always reminded of due dates, or to take notes for their projects. This flexible learning style works well for self-motivated, creative students because it allows them to set their own goals. This benefits students and general society because this teaches students how to become leaders in their own learning and the world. The learning system is much more different because students set their own pace, which means that everyone in the class can be in different areas of the curriculum. Many faster students accelerate through Math, and some Grade Sixes can be learning Grade Seven or Eight Math.

Numeracy

In the MACC classes, students work on self-paced textbook work in addition to problem solving and contests. That way they can work at their own pace. More emphasis is placed on problem solving to promote critical thinking skills. Some classes have 'individual math work' but in small groups where everyone's skill is more or less the same. Teachers believe that in doing so, this will bring up a lot of interesting math discussion, which they think is useful in learning math. Also because of all the work MACC students/teachers spend on problem solving type math, they score high in math competitions.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)

In the MACC program, each student along with their parent(s) and teacher, personalizes his/her goals in his/her IEP. It summarizes their goals in the four pillars of the MACC program: Literacy, Numeracy, Autonomous Learning and Project-Based Learning. Report cards are also partially based on what the students have done to achieve these goals. Unlike regular report cards. Students are marked with Acquiring, Developing, Mastery, Or Extends.

Reviews

1. This is my second year in the MACC class. I enjoy learning differently. In my particular class, we learn at our own rate and do different things. It all depends on the teacher to decide whether the student will enjoy the MACC class. I like the MACC class and I hope to be in it next year. -Jesse Gr. 7 Nov. 5, 2011

See also

• Kitsilano Secondary School
• Vancouver School Board
• Tecumseh Elementary School

External links

• VSB Tecumseh's MACC Program Profile
• Berkshire Park MACC Program