Teachers! Go Ability Group/Track
Public education should be a very important aspect in our lives. It teaches most of the information needed to be successful in our future careers. Going to school allows you to gain book knowledge. But going to school takes a lot of commitment and participation. You are able to make friends and do other fun activities such as join clubs or sports. You shouldn’t be deprived on what you can and cannot do. But just know not to fall behind or not do your work. It will hurt in the long run. As a junior here at Newark Memorial, I have had lots of experience with the different types of people that attend the school. Our school and the city in general is very diverse. There are many different types of backgrounds and ethnicities here.
Ability tracking is when teachers follow your education at a young age, to see what set standard of education fits well with you. On the other hand, Ability grouping is when teachers revise all the information they have gathered to settle you into a group you fit well in depending on your intelligence. Some schools put the students in groups from a wide scale based on their ability, from students who get their work done in a few minutes to those who take a week to complete one assignment. As they are grouped, students cooperate with others of the same level and conversate about a specific topic. As in Newark Memorial, some subjects use AP and CP classes to group students based on their level of what they know. If they feel ahead, or know a lot about the topic, they should take an Advanced Placement class. But if a student feels that being in a College Prep class is well-suited for them, take the regular classes.
An advantage of being grouped by the school, is that you are able to stay on top of your work and for the teachers, being on top of their students. For example, updating grades, planning new assignments, and getting to all students questions. According to the article, “ Education World: Is Ability Grouping the Way to go --- Or Should it go Away?" by Gary Hopkins, “Ability grouping increases student achievement by allowing teachers to focus instruction, proponents say. Teaching a group of like-ability students allows teachers to adjust the pace of instruction to students' needs” (Hopkins 1). This shows that the teachers are allowed to go at the student’s pace depending if their class is going at a fast rate or a slower rate. I feel like this way of grouping students in class is more useful and sufficient, because if those who don’t understand the topic could ask for help but if you already understand it, you would not have to wait for others but you are able to more activities, student-based assignments, etc. For example, at our school the workload for some students may be super high, but in a College Prep class, you finish the work in little time and you will have wasted time. Also when you are separated into an AP class, there is more work to ask more questions and to learn more.
Going to school since Kindergarten, made me realize that once you get older, people tend to fall behind and some exceed some teachers expectations. Passed maybe 6th grade, I noticed that trend, and some of my teachers tended to have trouble having the class in one. But, once I entered High School, and found out about AP classes, I realized it was an easier way of teaching groups who are ahead and those who need more time. In the PDF by William T. Viar, “Tracking and Ability Grouping,” he explains, “From the student’s perspective, the advantages of ability grouping are just as compelling. Students work with peers of similar ability which allows for increased challenge for gifted students and an increase in self-esteem by all students by not competing against peers that are brighter than them” (Viar 3). This shows an advantage and from a student’s perspective.
Many people (kids) said that it is unfair to the students who are going slower than others but some said yes, to where they should group by their knowledge. In the article, “What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?” by Michael Gonchar, he asked students who are the age 13 or older to answer a few questions. One student named Bill said, “ I think that classes grouped by a student’s knowledge in a given subject are better for the learning of the students, but make no difference for the lower students” (Gonchar 2). This shows that grouping would help the faster paced students who understand the work and are being held back by the slower paced group. Another student named Ashlynn explained, “ I think that this is very destructive. Kids aren’t stupid. They see what is going on, and once they figure it out, some of them just quit, and it isn’t fair to them because once they quit the teacher thinks they're even dumber and they quit on them too” (Gonchar 2). This is the other side, where others in the slower paced group may feel disheartened and feel behind, which may cause them to stop doing their work. In my experience in high school last year, in my math class me and my friend would always be ahead and we never heard anyone say anything about it. No one complained because they all knew they were able to get the work done and all get the same help from the teachers. So, in my opinion I don’t think that students feel this way, some may think that hearing stuff from other students that they are learning the same things as an AP class.
Although Ability Grouping is a good thing to have at school, people against this reform would mentally affect the student(s) in a way of separation. Such as, being self conscious on the level of intellectual intelligence you were put in. If you were in a situation of being in a regular class, and all of your friends are put into a Honors or AP class. You wouldn’t feel smart and left out because you aren’t “as good” as your friends. Another example can be discomfort and intimidation with what rank they are in. Even if the students are in the “regular” class there is a possibility that they can/will work on a faster pace than the others causing them to move up at a higher level. Some students tend to get lazy and procrastinate because they feel as if their work is blocking their thoughts to come in causing them to stress out and give up. In other circumstances, there are students who focus on their work and stay on task because they worry about falling behind and their grades dropping. Not only do they worry about this but they complain about the additional work. Thus, giving the teacher more work to grade and a longer time to put grades in.
As a final point, Ability Grouping/Tracking is used widely among schools as a way of balancing the school system and a way of making it easier to teach the students. Students can benefit from the reform or students can just look past it and not even care. Being in a grouped classroom, such as an AP class or CP class, would allow you go at your own pace and it will help both you and the teacher. In general, education is important to get your knowledge for your future. Getting into a higher rank/level classes help you get into better colleges. Yes, it could bring you down knowing you are in a lower position, but if you are succeeding and understanding everything being taught, it is better than being in a higher level, failing and falling behind, not understanding anything. Here in Newark Memorial, AP or higher level classes, should be offered for many more subjects than the ones given. In conclusion, be comfortable with what you chose.
Works Cited
Andreavasilopoulos. "Pros and Cons of Grouping Students by Ability." New Approaches to
Learning. Online Technology in Education, 11 June 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Ascd. "Synthesis of Research / Is Ability Grouping Equitable?" Untracking for Equity:Synthesis
of Research / Is Ability Grouping Equitable? Educational Leadership, Oct. 1992. Web. 28
Feb. 2017.
Garelick, Barry. "Let's Go Back to Grouping Students by Ability." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media
Company, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Gonchar, Michael. "What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?" The New
York Times. The Learning Network, 11 June 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Hopkins, Gary . "Is Ability Grouping the Way to Go -- Or Should It Go Away?" Is Ability
Grouping the Way to Go---Or Should It Go Away? Education World, 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Loveless, Tom. "Ability Grouping, Tracking, and How Schools Work | Brookings Institution."
Brookings. Brookings, 3 Apr. 2003. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Petrilli, Michael J. "All Together Now?" Education Next. N.p., 04 July 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
"Research Spotlight on Academic Ability Grouping." NEA. National Education Association, n.d.
Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
University of Sussex. "Grouping Kids By Ability Harms Education, Two Studies Show."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 September 2007.
Viar, William T. Tracking and Ability Grouping. Center For Teaching Excellence, 2008. Web. 24
Feb. 2017.
Public education should be a very important aspect in our lives. It teaches most of the information needed to be successful in our future careers. Going to school allows you to gain book knowledge. But going to school takes a lot of commitment and participation. You are able to make friends and do other fun activities such as join clubs or sports. You shouldn’t be deprived on what you can and cannot do. But just know not to fall behind or not do your work. It will hurt in the long run. As a junior here at Newark Memorial, I have had lots of experience with the different types of people that attend the school. Our school and the city in general is very diverse. There are many different types of backgrounds and ethnicities here.
Ability tracking is when teachers follow your education at a young age, to see what set standard of education fits well with you. On the other hand, Ability grouping is when teachers revise all the information they have gathered to settle you into a group you fit well in depending on your intelligence. Some schools put the students in groups from a wide scale based on their ability, from students who get their work done in a few minutes to those who take a week to complete one assignment. As they are grouped, students cooperate with others of the same level and conversate about a specific topic. As in Newark Memorial, some subjects use AP and CP classes to group students based on their level of what they know. If they feel ahead, or know a lot about the topic, they should take an Advanced Placement class. But if a student feels that being in a College Prep class is well-suited for them, take the regular classes.
An advantage of being grouped by the school, is that you are able to stay on top of your work and for the teachers, being on top of their students. For example, updating grades, planning new assignments, and getting to all students questions. According to the article, “ Education World: Is Ability Grouping the Way to go --- Or Should it go Away?" by Gary Hopkins, “Ability grouping increases student achievement by allowing teachers to focus instruction, proponents say. Teaching a group of like-ability students allows teachers to adjust the pace of instruction to students' needs” (Hopkins 1). This shows that the teachers are allowed to go at the student’s pace depending if their class is going at a fast rate or a slower rate. I feel like this way of grouping students in class is more useful and sufficient, because if those who don’t understand the topic could ask for help but if you already understand it, you would not have to wait for others but you are able to more activities, student-based assignments, etc. For example, at our school the workload for some students may be super high, but in a College Prep class, you finish the work in little time and you will have wasted time. Also when you are separated into an AP class, there is more work to ask more questions and to learn more.
Going to school since Kindergarten, made me realize that once you get older, people tend to fall behind and some exceed some teachers expectations. Passed maybe 6th grade, I noticed that trend, and some of my teachers tended to have trouble having the class in one. But, once I entered High School, and found out about AP classes, I realized it was an easier way of teaching groups who are ahead and those who need more time. In the PDF by William T. Viar, “Tracking and Ability Grouping,” he explains, “From the student’s perspective, the advantages of ability grouping are just as compelling. Students work with peers of similar ability which allows for increased challenge for gifted students and an increase in self-esteem by all students by not competing against peers that are brighter than them” (Viar 3). This shows an advantage and from a student’s perspective.
Many people (kids) said that it is unfair to the students who are going slower than others but some said yes, to where they should group by their knowledge. In the article, “What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?” by Michael Gonchar, he asked students who are the age 13 or older to answer a few questions. One student named Bill said, “ I think that classes grouped by a student’s knowledge in a given subject are better for the learning of the students, but make no difference for the lower students” (Gonchar 2). This shows that grouping would help the faster paced students who understand the work and are being held back by the slower paced group. Another student named Ashlynn explained, “ I think that this is very destructive. Kids aren’t stupid. They see what is going on, and once they figure it out, some of them just quit, and it isn’t fair to them because once they quit the teacher thinks they're even dumber and they quit on them too” (Gonchar 2). This is the other side, where others in the slower paced group may feel disheartened and feel behind, which may cause them to stop doing their work. In my experience in high school last year, in my math class me and my friend would always be ahead and we never heard anyone say anything about it. No one complained because they all knew they were able to get the work done and all get the same help from the teachers. So, in my opinion I don’t think that students feel this way, some may think that hearing stuff from other students that they are learning the same things as an AP class.
Although Ability Grouping is a good thing to have at school, people against this reform would mentally affect the student(s) in a way of separation. Such as, being self conscious on the level of intellectual intelligence you were put in. If you were in a situation of being in a regular class, and all of your friends are put into a Honors or AP class. You wouldn’t feel smart and left out because you aren’t “as good” as your friends. Another example can be discomfort and intimidation with what rank they are in. Even if the students are in the “regular” class there is a possibility that they can/will work on a faster pace than the others causing them to move up at a higher level. Some students tend to get lazy and procrastinate because they feel as if their work is blocking their thoughts to come in causing them to stress out and give up. In other circumstances, there are students who focus on their work and stay on task because they worry about falling behind and their grades dropping. Not only do they worry about this but they complain about the additional work. Thus, giving the teacher more work to grade and a longer time to put grades in.
As a final point, Ability Grouping/Tracking is used widely among schools as a way of balancing the school system and a way of making it easier to teach the students. Students can benefit from the reform or students can just look past it and not even care. Being in a grouped classroom, such as an AP class or CP class, would allow you go at your own pace and it will help both you and the teacher. In general, education is important to get your knowledge for your future. Getting into a higher rank/level classes help you get into better colleges. Yes, it could bring you down knowing you are in a lower position, but if you are succeeding and understanding everything being taught, it is better than being in a higher level, failing and falling behind, not understanding anything. Here in Newark Memorial, AP or higher level classes, should be offered for many more subjects than the ones given. In conclusion, be comfortable with what you chose.
Works Cited
Andreavasilopoulos. "Pros and Cons of Grouping Students by Ability." New Approaches to
Learning. Online Technology in Education, 11 June 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Ascd. "Synthesis of Research / Is Ability Grouping Equitable?" Untracking for Equity:Synthesis
of Research / Is Ability Grouping Equitable? Educational Leadership, Oct. 1992. Web. 28
Feb. 2017.
Garelick, Barry. "Let's Go Back to Grouping Students by Ability." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media
Company, 26 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Gonchar, Michael. "What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?" The New
York Times. The Learning Network, 11 June 2013. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Hopkins, Gary . "Is Ability Grouping the Way to Go -- Or Should It Go Away?" Is Ability
Grouping the Way to Go---Or Should It Go Away? Education World, 2006. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Loveless, Tom. "Ability Grouping, Tracking, and How Schools Work | Brookings Institution."
Brookings. Brookings, 3 Apr. 2003. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
Petrilli, Michael J. "All Together Now?" Education Next. N.p., 04 July 2016. Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
"Research Spotlight on Academic Ability Grouping." NEA. National Education Association, n.d.
Web. 28 Feb. 2017.
University of Sussex. "Grouping Kids By Ability Harms Education, Two Studies Show."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 September 2007.
Viar, William T. Tracking and Ability Grouping. Center For Teaching Excellence, 2008. Web. 24
Feb. 2017.