[Oz-gifted] RE: Ability grouping

[L B]

Kristy
Just a thought.  I am for ability grouping, but are you suggesting 
differerent groups for different abilities.  For example would a child be in 
a different grouping for maths and english/reading?  How would you timetable 
this?  Would you have the whole school doing maths and english at the same 
time?  How would you timetable everything else in, such as sports using 
limited resources (that only one or two classes can use at a time)?

My son has been accelerated from his kinder class for maths, up to year 2 
now, and logistically it has been difficult. He has had to miss certain 
classes of his kinder stuff to do it because the streaming is usually done 
across years 1 - 2, 3 - 4 and 5 - 6, although in ability groups too (so the 
top ability group in year 2 may be doing year 3 or 4 work).

Lynda


>From: "Kristy" <ankone at bigpond.com>
>Reply-To: oz-gifted at rite.ed.qut.edu.au
>To: <oz-gifted at rite.ed.qut.edu.au>
>Subject: Re: [Oz-gifted] RE:  Ability grouping
>Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 13:45:58 +0800
>
>Just had another thought.
>
>Education should enable a child to learn and develop to the best of THEIR 
>ability. Ed systems still seem stuck on giving all children the same when 
>the needs of the children differ. Why introduce, for ex, algebra to a child 
>that has not yet master basic addition or multiplication because this is 
>what 'needs' to be taught to this age/year group? Wouldnt this child 
>benefit from being with a group of kids all of similar ability who need to 
>spend more time with the basics so they can master them? Similarly why 
>should children in the higher spectrum be stuck repeating concepts they 
>have already mastered because the harder concepts are not taught until a 
>year or two later? If they were ability grouped it would allow the children 
>to learn at a pace that suits their needs.
>
>I am repeatedly told that the curriculum framework allows for this and that 
>each child will be given work for their own level but I dont see this in 
>practice. There is some ability grouping within my childrens classes but 
>its hard for the teachers to program for such varying needs. Within each 
>class they have children from the entire spectrum. How is it possible for 
>one teacher to manage such a range of needs for so many children without 
>some missing out? With ability grouping the teachers can focus on one 
>ability group.This would have to be beneficial both for the teachers and 
>children.
>
>uh oh, think I am on a mission here. Appointment with our schools deputy on 
>Monday to throw some ideas around with him lol.
>
>Kristy
>
>
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