Ability grouping

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Home : 2002 : July : 16

Ability grouping
By MA

I'm not sure if my concern belongs here or not -- but here goes. We are a very small school district. This fall our school board wants us to ability group students in Reading only (90 minutes)in grades 1-4. As of now,
the 1st graders will stay together to get used to all day school but one 2nd grader will join that group. Out of the 2nd grade class one student will be moved to 3rd and two fourth graders will be moved down. Out of the 3rd grade class 3 students will be moved to 4th and four fifth graders will be moved down. I hope you can get the idea. Anyway -- my concern is whether this "moving"

should be done or whether the grouping should be done within the classroom. What does research tell us is best for the students? Is a 2nd graders maturity and attention level high to be put in with a group of 3rd and 4th graders? I am not only a concerned teacher -- I am a concerned grandma.