Reply to Montgomery county's new SJ program

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]^ wow. How is this common sense model not being expanded? Of COURSE it is much harder for a teacher to teach a mixed abilities class rather than meet the needs of the kids in a more targeted way. [/quote]

There's also decades of experience showing that tracking (which is what "meeting the needs of the kids in a more targeted way" means in the real world) benefits certain groups of kids at the expense of other certain groups of kids.[/quote]

Flexible tracking can absolutely work, and would certainly work better than what we have now, in which very few children are having their needs met. So, no, rigid tracking that begins at kindergarten or before is a terrible system. Flexible tracking works, but it requires a significant investment of attention into each child's needs.

My kids are at a school that is absolutely engaged in low-key under-the-radar tracking and the school has MUCH higher test scores than it "should" based on demographics, and higher than nearby schools with lower FARMS and ESOL rates. Principals are finding a way. [/quote]

[b]It CAN work. But it very often doesn't work.[/b][/quote]

Funny, that's what I'd say about heterogeneous grouping.  It's the rare teacher who can juggle a wide range of abilities in one classroom.

From a logical perspective, either you forget differentiation and teach to one level ignoring the needs of those above and/or below that level OR a teacher has to divide their time and attention between children.  Hypothetically, even if you only give on-level and advanced students instruction 5% of the time (which wouldn't be fair to them), that's still 5% of the time that they can't devote to the struggling students.  Wouldn't it be better to have all students being taught at their level 100% of the time?

With a teacher who can't differentiate in the ideal manner, students are invariably shortchanged.  While a few great teachers might be able to reach their students and help them make some progress, think of what those superstars could accomplish if they were able to focus on one group of students rather than be handicapped by having to juggle multiple groups.

MCPS is focused on eliminating the gap.  I think that's the wrong focus.  I think the focus should be on giving each and every student the opportunity and support to make as much progress as possible.  Yes, we should help the students at the bottom.  Give them the best teachers, the smallest classes, extra resources. Let's focus on bringing them up.  On the other hand, let's let our top students go as far and as fast as they want.  If that means opening up more magnet spots (not lowering the bar), let's do that.

Nobody is suggesting students should be held in rigid tracks, but teaching all kids at their level with the goal of always helping them advance, would ultimately lead to better outcomes for all students.  [/quote]

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