Order of ability

Possible evidence

HIGHVery able; listens carefully; creative; ready to answer; interested in everything.

MEDIUMInterested and co-operative but sometimes a bit shy; not so good at speaking.

LOWAbsent-minded; cannot concentrate; always want to play.

It refers to the phenomenon in which the greater the expectation placed upon people, often children or students and emploees, the better they perform.(Rosenthal-Jacobson)

Treat each pupil as an individual. Very difficult for a 30-student class.

ADOPT different TEACHING STRATEGIES:

Differentiating activities. Peer tutoring. Group teaching.

Teach core contents for all pupils.

Reinforce work /more intensive practice for weaker students.

Extension work for faster students.(Fast finishers)

We can adapt the same activity to suit different students’needs. Look and compare activitites pages 33,34.

Which one provides more/less support?

Slower or weaker stduents can be paired with a stronger partner for some activities, but they must be aware that:

Buddies are friends. They are there to help you. They support you, not dominate. They help you when you get stuck. They help you to do things for yourself. They do not tell you the answers.

When could you use this strategy?

What are its advantages and disadvantages?

What changes would you need to make in order to use it in your context?

Students divided into groups according to their academic ability.

Teacher monitors each group’s tasks every twenty minutes.

Africa. Argentina teachers working in rural schools.

Teacher must produce several different plans for one course. Integrated students?

Read advantages and disadvantages, page 39.

Mixed ability classes are common in our reality .

Decide which situations work best according to your teaching context.

Having high expectations from children raises their own expectations.

Being open/flexible to change. Assist children in developing more

positive self-images and higer levels of self-exteem.