Ability Grouping, Sheryl Elliott

Ability grouping has advantages.  One advantage to grouping gifted and talented students together is they can work together to meet their potential.  The teacher can provide instruction that can challenge them and help gifted and talented students grow. The material taught can be much more rigorous. Projects can be completed that will allow the gifted student to be ready for middle school, high school, and college. This also provides an advantage for those non-gifted and talented students.  They will be able to move at an appropriate pace without feeling frustrated.  Just like a 4A football team should not compete against a 1A football team, non-gifted students should not feel the pressure of being in class with a gifted and talented student. 

     Ability grouping also has disadvantages.  Too man “chiefs” in one room can be bad for both the teacher and the student.  Gifted and talented students usually have strong personalities and like to be leaders.  This has the potential to cause conflict when working in groups.  Another disadvantage to ability grouping is it does not allow gifted students the chance to be work with everyone.  They are surrounded by peers who are very similar to themselves.  The real world is not like that.  Gifted and talented students need to be able to function in a society where they are surrounded by all academic abilities.