Classroom Mixtures for the Gifted- Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?- Article Review

Classroom Mixtures for the Gifted- Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?

John H. Holloway in his article, “Grouping Gifted Students”, looks at research to the question of whether or not gifted students can receive effective instruction in the regular classroom. He wants to know if researchers agree with Lisa Benson, a classroom teacher, who says no. Her reasoning is the gifted students become frustrated especially if they have a high degree of creativity and resources are not available in the regular classroom.

Holloway first looks at the question from the homogeneous versus heterogeneous grouping perspective. From this perspective two researchers, Renuzulli and Mesler, found that the regular (heterogeneous) classroom could serve the gifted students. Renuzulli suggested that teachers would need special training or access to specialists. The four other researches cited found homogenous grouping was better for gifted students. Burns and Mason found this was true because “the higher ability classes received better instruction or had higher ability teachers and benefited from high-ability classmates” (p.89). In another research, Rogers concluded that gifted students need some form of ability grouping to broaden and extend their curriculum. Shields found that homogeneous grouping had a positive effect on the attitudes of the gifted and how they felt about themselves as learners and the school experience. The study by Gentry, Rizza, and Owen expressed concern that there was little differentiation for the gifted students in the heterogeneous classroom.

The research of mixed-ability group options was next looked at by Holloway. Tomlinson’s research says the gifted can receive effective instruction in a differentiated classroom. However, s...

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...estion is not usually asked. Students at the high school level tend to want to take the easy way out.

I think if I had to make the decision at my school, based on research and on my experiences I would choose to have homogenous grouping for the gifted students. My biggest challenge would be as to what criteria to use. Would it be ability, areas of giftedness, or some other criteria?

Reference

Holloway, J. (2003, October). Grouping Gifted Students. Educational Leadership, 61, 89-91. Retrieved January 29, 2010, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/oct03/vol61/num02/_Grouping_Gifted_Students.aspx

Reference

Holloway, J. (2003, October). Grouping Gifted Students. Educational Leadership, 61, 89-91. Retrieved January 29, 2010, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/oct03/vol61/num02/_Grouping_Gifted_Students.aspx