7/30/2019 5. How Can a Teacher Fulfil the Needs of a Mixed Ability Classroom

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5. How can a teacher fulfil the needs of a mixed ability classroom?

Make sure that the quality of teaching for the low ability group is as good as that for the

high ability group.

Vary the composition of the groups. Put the low ability students in their own groups when

the rate of learning warrants it.

Do not label the low ability students as weak or slow or with other words that may

demotivate them.

Avoid giving activities which make them compete with the better students.

Ability grouping

a. Homogenous groups:Students are grouped according to their ability levels. The weak and the better studentsare in separate groups. They work according to their ability levels.

b. Mixed groups:The weak and the good students are in one group. This type of grouping allows the weakstudents to learn from the better ones. The better students are encouraged to help the

weak learners.c. Differentiated learning materials:

The students can be exposed to the same instructions in class but the learning materialswhich comprise tasks and activities for students to do vary according to their ability level.The weak students are given simple tasks while the better ones are given morechallenging tasks.

d. Differentiated teaching:The teacher gives the better students tasks to do on their own while she teaches the weakgroup. When the weak students have been sufficiently taught, the teacher gives themwork to do on their own and supervises the better students.

e. Tutorial:The teacher provides coaching to individual students during classroom sessions oroutside classroom sessions. Usually the teacher teaches the whole class and then setthem tasks to do. While they are doing their work, the teacher calls up individual students

who are weak and gives them extra teaching.f. Independent study/individualized learning:

Each student is allowed to learn at his or her own pace. This is possible with the use ofself-access materials and also the computer. Students can choose and use the materialswhich suit their level of proficiency. The materials may be there in print form and those onthe Internet. Students choose their own learning materials.

Activity

a. Do not have different sets of materials that will discriminate the weak from the goodstudents. The weak students should not feel that they are not capable of doingchallenging tasks. The material may be the same but the tasks may differ.

b. Occasionally, give the weak students challenging tasks but not difficult ones. They shouldbe able to do the tasks with some help from the teacher or friends. The tasks should notbe of such a difficulty level that they are unable to do them.

c. Do not give activities which are competitive in nature. These activities may put the weakones at a disadvantage and they may not be motivated to do them at all.

d. Allow the weak students to participate together with the good students in classroomactivities. Allowing students of mixed ability, at times, to work in small groups, may enablethe weak students to learn from their peers who are good.

e. Occasionally, give activities which allow weak students to work on their own. They cancomplete the tasks at their own pace using their own styles of learning.

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