Ability Grouping Helpful To Students: Article Analysis

Is Ability Grouping Helpful or Hurtful to Students

Do you want your child to be permanently labeled as the “Dumb kid” or the “Smart kid”. Well this is what happens when you group by ability level in school. So if you don’t want them to be like that then I say don’t track students by ability level in school, but I’m not the only one that says this.

First of all, when you track students by ability level you are just adding another way of racially segregating everyone into different groups. In the article “Students shouldn't be separated by ability, says new study” Christy Lleras, a professor of human and community development says "The costs are larger than the benefits because not only do the lower-grouped students not learn as much, there

In the article “Better for students or easier for schools” Coach G a math teacher, instructional leader, and PD provider said he asked his students for their opinion and this is what they said,“ I don't feel right being split into different groups because it makes us feel like we don't amount to anything and sometimes I feel uncomfortable about that.” This was just one of the many similar comments. So if you were teaching these students and this is what they said when you asked for there opinion I would immediately stop. This student feels like there not important and when you come to school you should not feel like this you should feel like you have a purpose. That your important. From the article I read “Students shouldn’t be separated by ability” Lleras a professor of human and community development at Urbana-Champaign said “However much the practice of ability grouping has negative unintended consequences for minority students,” Lleras also said “teachers aren't to blame for adopting the practice.” This shows from research that it leaves a lasting impression later on in life. However some people like Robert E. Slavin did some research on grouping and found benefits this is one reason he said so “ In-class grouping---a common approach in which teachers break out two or three ability-based groups within a class for instruction---can benefit student achievement.” This maybe true but most teachers only reevaluate every so often so then the students don’t have the chance to excelle into a better group, or a higher level. This all ends in anger and frustration because they either are bored or don’t understand anything, because they aren’t in the right