Consolidating Learning and Differentiation; including mixed ability group

Day 6              : Wednesday, 15th October 2014
Session 2      : 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
Slot                 : Consolidating Learning and Differentiation; including mixed ability group
Tutor               : Bill Bowler

Classroom Learning Outcome:

1.       To define Mixed Ability and different degree of it.

2.       To share information about strategies for dealing with Mixed Ability groups.

3.       To experience/review concrete examples of differentiation materials/task.

Suggestions:

1.       Teachers should able to group their students based on their ability.

2.       Teachers should also be able to construct activities/tasks according to students’ ability

3.       Teachers can mix students with different ability in a single group or put students with the same ability in one group. This depends on the type of activities/tasks constructed.

Teaching tips:

1.       Teachers can use colours or animals to classify students’ ability (e.g. Red=low, yellow = intermediate, and Green = Advance). Try to avoid using words such as “low level”, “good students”, or “poor students” to group students. This is to make sure that the students do not feel demotivated about their abilty.

2.       Teacher can use the same materials for the entire classroom, but teacher need to be able to differentiate the activities/task based on students’ ability. For example, giving easier activities/task to the lower level students and more difficult activities/task to the higher level students.

Reflection:

1.       To be able to classify students based on their ability is a very crucial. Because, it will make sure that all students in the classroom will benefit from a class session. The lower level students will not get left behind while the higher level students will be able to improve their skills.

2.       Aside from that, teachers play important role in determining the activities/task which suits the students’ ability. 

Prepared by,

Kamaludin bin Deni