Blog 5

Christina Mendez 10-9-2008

Blog 5

Topic Headings

The list serve that I joined is classroom management. I have been a part of this blog since September. There are many issues that have been addressed and for this week the issue was on grouping of kids in a classroom. This discussion took place from October 2, 2008 to October 9. 2008.

A. Include the descriptions of classroom activities, resources, and issues that were discussed.

One woman was explaining that she feels that grouping needs to be flexible and has to be used as a mixture. She feels if you do not make it a mixture the kids will get used to the idea that they are in set groups. In her classroom she makes it as spontaneous as possible for the kids and they get a kick out of her looking over them and picking students for groups. One method she has done to group them was to use magnets with their names on them or colored numbers. She also explained that she only uses peer tutoring on an as needed basis. If students are struggling it is helpful, however, if it is used frequently the struggling students will become frustrated.

B. Explain areas of agreement, disagreement, concerns, advice, etc.

For this week’s discussion there were many agreements between people. One woman commented by saying that she believes in homogeneous grouping. She feels that some students benefit from the leadership role and other students learn from someone on their level because the material is explained better. Sometimes the lower functioning students ask questions to a peer that they may not ask to the whole class because they are afraid of getting made fun of. Another woman agreed by stating she places the top students with the lower students. She uses peer tutoring when she has tried everything else and nothing else seems to work. She agrees that students can say things to each other in ways that adults can not. For example, the students may not use the right terminology or the terminology of the state based standards, however once the child has a foundation the terminology will come to them. She also says that she doesn’t use it frequently, but only on an as needed basis. For example, in science labs she will make the groups mixed levels. She feels that it is helpful for both levels of students. She finds that the lower students are more tactile, visual and hands on learners. She feels that by using their natural curiosity and questioning natures along with the tops students’ ability to organize and record seems to work well in this type of activity. Lastly someone responded by saying that she just started teaching science and she was wondering about multiple level grouping assets.