My thoughts on Ability Grouping

As a Middle School math teacher, ability grouping is the only way!  The pace in which I move is significantly effected by the abilities of my students.  Thankfully, the higher level students (gifted) in math are placed together in an honor's class.  However, the college prep (CP) students are all grouped heterogeneously, meaning if the student is not gifted, they are placed in this group.  Students range in ability of exceeding all the way down to in need of support, according to ACT aspire scores.  This makes the pace a little more challenging, but workable.  I understand the concept of not having ability grouping, but for language arts and math, I think it's a must.  The textbook says it best on page 12.  "Gifted Education and gifted students are in deep trouble without grouping practices..."

Advantages to ability grouping as I see it are that students can work at a pace that is challenging, yet comfortable for them.  I believe students work better in a team setting when their abilities are matched equally or close to that of their peers.  I also believe that grouping would limit the fear of feeling less than another peer, which is very important for self worth.  As I said before, gifted students can be challenged and can progress through the curriculum quickly.  Gifted students don't have to slow down or lose their momentum so that other students can catch up, and visa versa.  Other students don't feel like they have to play catch up to those gifted students.

However, the disadvantages are the flip to the advantages.  Lower functioning students may feel inferior to the brighter students because they are in a lower group.  They may feel stuck in the lower group, which may cause them to give up.  Students in the lower groups may not be challenged to their potential, especially those who don't fit in the higher functioning groups, but are higher than the group they are in.  Gifted students would be held back, so that the average student's needs could be met. Gifted students may feel they are being used as mini professors, which may lead to frustration and anger.   Gifted students would not be challenged to their maximum potential if they were not homogeneously grouped.