Some people contend that mixed ability classes are more beneficial for children’s development than streaming them on the basis of judgement about their academic abilities. However, from my perspective, I disagree with this contention.
Admittedly, mixed ability classes provide a better environment for children’s all-round development. In such classes, children with different abilities study together and in turn they can learn from one another. From example, a student, who is good at academic study but weak in dancing or painting, can learn how to dance or paint form his peers. In this sense, mixed ability classes allow students to develop their abilities in different subjects instead of only academic abilities.
Despite the argument above, I believe streaming students brings more benefits to teachers and students. As for teachers, separating children with better academic abilities from others facilitates effective teaching. This practice helps teachers to control their students more conveniently and easily. Compared with mixed ability in which teacher should consider students’ differences when they are using teaching methodologies, streaming makes this situation simpler. To be more specific, students are at the same level of academic ability in a class, and in turn teachers can use the same methodologies for them all. In this way, the narrower the spread of ability in the class, the more convenient the teaching can be.
On top of this, steaming enables students to learn in an effective way. According to students’ different abilities, they are taught in different ways that are more suitable for them. In the top streams, students use more difficult materials, therefore, they can learn more. In sharp contrast, teachers can explain the material more slowly to those in bottom streams. Under this circumstance, students with different academic abilities can study effectively and efficiently.
In the final analysis, mixed ability classes are beneficial for students’ versatile development, but in my opinion, segregating students based on different academic ability is better for both teachers and students.
Some
people
contend that
mixed
ability
classes
are more beneficial for
children’s
development than streaming them on the basis of judgement about their
academic
abilities
.
However
, from my perspective, I disagree with this contention.
Admittedly
,
mixed
ability
classes
provide a better environment for
children’s
all-round development. In such
classes
,
children
with
different
abilities
study together and in turn they can
learn
from one another. From example, a
student
, who is
good
at
academic
study
but
weak in dancing or painting, can
learn
how to dance or paint form his peers. In this sense,
mixed
ability
classes
allow
students
to develop their
abilities
in
different
subjects
instead
of
only
academic
abilities.
Despite the argument above, I believe streaming
students
brings more benefits to
teachers
and
students
. As for
teachers
, separating
children
with better
academic
abilities
from others facilitates effective teaching. This practice
helps
teachers
to control their
students
more
conveniently
and
easily
. Compared with
mixed
ability
in which
teacher
should consider
students’
differences when they are using teaching methodologies, streaming
makes
this situation simpler. To be more specific,
students
are at the same level of
academic
ability
in a
class
, and in turn
teachers
can
use
the same methodologies for them all. In this way, the narrower the spread of
ability
in the
class
, the more convenient the teaching can be.
On top of this, steaming enables
students
to
learn
in an effective way. According to
students’
different
abilities
, they
are taught
in
different
ways that are more suitable for them. In the top streams,
students
use
more difficult materials,
therefore
, they can
learn
more. In sharp contrast,
teachers
can
explain
the material more
slowly
to those in bottom streams. Under this circumstance,
students
with
different
academic
abilities
can study
effectively
and
efficiently
.
In the final analysis,
mixed
ability
classes
are beneficial for
students’
versatile development,
but
in my opinion, segregating
students
based on
different
academic
ability
is better for both
teachers
and
students
.