Ability Grouping

I do not believe in ability grouping. It takes away from students motivation. If I were placed in a low ability group I would feel that I was stupid or slow and would not feel the need to work hard as I had been branded as a low achiever. Students learn at different rates but as teachers it is our responsibility to adapt to that and use differentiated instruction as a tool to meet everyone's needs. At Amber Hill the ability grouping eliminated the teachers use of DI. As Boaler(2002) states, "When teachers place students in ability groups, however, they often forget that students are at different places in their mathematical learning, with different strengths and needs, they assume that the students are now a homogeneous group and differentiation is not required"(p157) This takes the diversity out of the classroom and we know that students are supposed to bring diversity. We have a variety of learners in our classroom and differentiated instruction is mandatory in order to reach all their needs.
Slavin(1992) states, "Ability grouping is ineffective. It is harmful to many students. It inhibits development of interracial respect, understanding and friendship"(p14) Students need to feel connected and a sense of belonging. If we do not push them to do their best then they will settle for less. We cannot put a label on a child that determines what they are capable of. If we do this at an early stage then we are eliminating the growth that can occur within a child. For instance, I know a student who did not care much for school. He was placed in the basic stream in high school, there was not a whole of confidence in his ability. After 2 years from the time he graduated he went back to obtain his ABE. He then went onto MUN and has just graduated from Med School. I think that ability grouping was a factor in his behavior in high school. If the school did not have confidence in him well how could he have it in himself, and it is obvious the potential and ability was there.
Boaler, Jo.(2002) Experiencing School Mathematics. Routledge NY
Slavin, Robert.(1992) Why Ability Grouping Must End" Achieving Excellence and Equity in American Education. Johns Hopkins University.