Teachers' Classroom Practices

Teachers' Classroom Practices

In this chapter we will explore teachers' pedagogic practices with mixed ability classes and classes grouped by ability. Mixed ability teaching is generally considered to be more demanding for teachers, requiring greater differentiation of work in the classroom. When pupils are grouped by ability teachers seem to underestimate the differences between them and tend to abandon the differentiated and varied methods they use with mixed ability classes. Teaching methods also differ in high and low ability groups, leading to a more stimulating environment, faster pace and more pressure for more able pupils and a reduction in the opportunity to learn for the lower ability groups. These differences have serious implications for pupils' learning, particularly when considered alongside the lack of ...