![]() ![]() Also, mixed ability grouping allows high achieving students to excel in leadership roles. Mixed ability grouping is more equitable and helps lower achieving students. In contrast, some research has shown that creating a high achieving vs low achieving class can be detrimental to the students classified as underperforming. You see, just because a child is advanced in one area, doesn't mean they're advanced in all areas (and vice versa). We were creating MIXED ABILITY classrooms. Early literacy/reading skills were the major factor we assessed, but there was a glaring difference. ![]() Scenario 2:Īt my previous school, entrance exams for kindergarten were also used to determine student ability. This is often used with the early bird/late bird kindergartens. In order to best meet all kids' needs they'd be separated by this determining factor, not necessarily taking into account if a child was really strong in math or other academic subjects. Apparently, many students come in with no letter knowledge and some come in reading. They may even tell you if you ask! Many believe it would be to best way to target instruction at all levels. Many schools determine placement based on a child's READING SKILLS assessment. What does that mean? Well, classes are either made up of kids with varying academic ability levels OR they're by kids in the same ability levels. Some schools are not as forthcoming in how they use the tests to determine class placements but generally classes are either mixed ability or by ability. From a teacher's perspective, it really beats having to individually assess each child during classroom hours, or let's face it during recess time. Giving the teachers the opportunity to spend individual time with each student and assessing their needs and strengths BEFORE school starts will help maximize learning right off the bat. For example, it would be pointless to spend a week on each alphabet letter in kindergarten if all kids came in knowing all their letters! By determining what kids do not yet know, teacher's can help individualize instruction and plan their lessons based on what kids need to know next. Most often, the kindergarten entrance exam is a comprehensive assessment to determine your child's mastery of pre-k skills but also kindergarten skills like reading and doing arithmetic. Using the assessment to plan instruction: To help determine class placement - more on that belowġ. ![]()
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