Essay On Ability Grouping
Benefits of Ability Grouping
Beginning in the 1960’s schools started using a method of teaching called ability grouping. Ability grouping is when students are placed into classes based on their abilities rather than their age. Some people did not like this way of teaching because they felt like it was biased towards the poor and the minorities. Since then it has been a very controversial topic in education. Because ability grouping has proven successful, schools should use it when deciding what classes students should take.
One of the ways ability grouping is effective is because it allows students to be grouped based on their skill level. “Ability grouping is a tool used to match a student's readiness for learning with the instruction provided, …show more content…
“Because the students are concentrated with other students who have similar levels of knowledge and learning rates and clear learning goals, they can better challenge one another to grow further.” (Olszewski-Kubilius 2). Having a classroom full of students at the same level of skill is not only helpful to the students themselves, but to the teachers as well. Trying to educate a classroom of students who are all at different proficiency levels would be challenging. “Within-class grouping for math and cross-grade grouping for reading-tend to have positive effects on overall achievement” (Gamoran 2). Math and reading are the two subjects that use ability grouping the most, especially at the elementary level. Because those subjects are the ones used the most, and are the ones with the most positive effects, ability grouping must be successful. Students should be placed in schools based on ability grouping. Studies show that when done effectively, it can be beneficial to both students and teachers. Students are in an environment with others at the same level, and teachers can teach better when they know what learning level they are teaching to. Overall ability grouping has a positive outcome in schools and should be used in schools across the
Beginning in the 1960’s schools started using a method of teaching called ability grouping. Ability grouping is when students are placed into classes based on their abilities rather than their age. Some people did not like this way of teaching because they felt like it was biased towards the poor and the minorities. Since then it has been a very controversial topic in education. Because ability grouping has proven successful, schools should use it when deciding what classes students should take.
One of the ways ability grouping is effective is because it allows students to be grouped based on their skill level. “Ability grouping is a tool used to match a student's readiness for learning with the instruction provided, …show more content…
“Because the students are concentrated with other students who have similar levels of knowledge and learning rates and clear learning goals, they can better challenge one another to grow further.” (Olszewski-Kubilius 2). Having a classroom full of students at the same level of skill is not only helpful to the students themselves, but to the teachers as well. Trying to educate a classroom of students who are all at different proficiency levels would be challenging. “Within-class grouping for math and cross-grade grouping for reading-tend to have positive effects on overall achievement” (Gamoran 2). Math and reading are the two subjects that use ability grouping the most, especially at the elementary level. Because those subjects are the ones used the most, and are the ones with the most positive effects, ability grouping must be successful. Students should be placed in schools based on ability grouping. Studies show that when done effectively, it can be beneficial to both students and teachers. Students are in an environment with others at the same level, and teachers can teach better when they know what learning level they are teaching to. Overall ability grouping has a positive outcome in schools and should be used in schools across the