Relevant Ideas

One of the general ideas discussed in Chapter 7 is the idewa that organizing groups based on ability levels should be done sparingly. This would decrease the sense of isolation that often comes with separating students into groups based on ability. Often, students will look and others and compare themselves to their classmates. While the "higher" ability group may have more to boast about, they may see themselves as set apart from the class. This also may happen with the "lower" ability group, and they may even feel a sense of stupidity when measuring themselves against their classmates. While I can understand the recommendation that the book makes, teaching all students based on the same curriculum will hold some students back and leave some students behind. Often, ability groups give students a chance to work at a pace that they, and other students with similar ability, feel comfortable with. Though the groups should be used sparingly, there is also a use ofr ability groups in the classroom.