Defining Homogeneous Groups in Education

Homogeneous grouping in an educational setting is defined as placing students of similar instructional levels together where they can work on materials best suited to their particular strengths and areas for growth. These ability levels are usually determined by assessment and teacher observation.  Homogeneous groups are also known as ability or ability-level groups. Homogeneous groups are in direct contrast with heterogeneous  groups  in which students of varying abilities are grouped together, usually randomly. Keep reading to find out how homogeneous groups are used as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this practice. Examples of Homogenous Groups Homogeneous groups are common in schools and many teachers use them even without realizing it. Read the following scenarios to understand the role that ability groups play in practice. Literacy A teacher designs small-group reading instruction based on the skills that the students in each group are developing. When organizing these homogeneous groups, a teacher puts all high students (those with the highest reading levels) together in their own group and meets with them all at the same time to read a more challenging text. She also meets with the low students to improve their reading by meeting them at their ability levels and selecting a text that is challenging but not too challenging. Math When designing math centers, a teacher collects three sets of materials: one for his lowest group, one for his middle group, and one for his highest group. These groups were determined by the most recent NWEA data sets. In order to ensure that his students independent practice is appropriate for their skill levels, the handouts and activities he selects are of different levels of difficulty. His lowest group does additional practice with concepts already taught and their work is intended to catch them up and support them if they fall behind so that they are on track with the curriculum. Note that referring to children as high or low is not an attribute of equitable teaching and you should never speak about your students in terms of their scores. Use your knowledge of their ability levels to make plans for their academic success only and refrain from disclosing levels and groupings to students, families, and other teachers unless absolutely necessary. Advantages of Homogenous Groups Homogeneous groups allow for lesson plans that are tailored to abilities and save teachers time addressing individual needs. When students are grouped by skill, they tend to have similar questions and areas of difficulty that can all be addressed at once. Students tend to feel comfortable and sufficiently challenged when they work with students that learn at about the same pace as themselves. Homogeneous groups mitigate the issues of students feeling held back from moving on or trailing far behind and struggling to keep up. Ability groups can maximize student achievement when properly executed. Disadvantages of Homogenous Groups Despite its advantages, there has been a push to lessen or eliminate the use of homogeneous grouping in schools for a few reasons. One reason is the treatment of students with mental, physical, or emotional needs that are almost always placed in lower groups. Some studies showed that low expectations placed on such groups by teachers were a self-fulfilling prophecy and these students did not end up receiving high-quality instruction. When poorly implemented, homogeneous groups fail to challenge students because they provide goals that students can too easily meet and do not have to stretch to. Finally, student ability levels vary by subject and many worry that grouping students too rigidly by their skills means that they will not receive appropriate assistance. They might get too much when they understand just fine or not enough when things get tough.

Critically Evaluate Change at Marks Spencer - 5311 Words

Abstract Marks and Spencer (MS) p.l.c. is one of the largest retailers in the United Kingdom with a selling space of 12.5 million square feet, was established in 1884 as ‘Penny bazaar’. MS sells clothing, food, footwear, gifts and home furnishings in its 760 stores around the world. The company’s wholly own and franchise stores operates in Europe, Hong Kong, Far East, Australia, Middle East, the Bahamas and Bermuda making a total of 34 countries. This report critically evaluates the changes at MS from the mid 1980s to current day. Initially it assesses and outlines the macro and micro environmental factors. Under macro environment the substantial competitive growth is explained using internet technology and globalisation. Under†¦show more content†¦Figure 1: GDP growth of the UK since 2002 Source: National Statistics (2007) According to Turban and King (2003), internet technology renders retailers an additional channel for branding, transactions and customer relationship management, the adaptation of which may drive down retailers’ transaction costs, and ensuring faster and higher quality of customer interactions, resulting in enlarging the existing markets and consumer base. MS realizes this and have tried to sell clothing via high street stores as well as via internet though they have experienced cost cutting, rationalisation and management changes in order to revive their business in recent years. Internet technology might enable sustainable competitive advantage, but problems remain on how to physically organize their online retail operations. As argued by Eaton (2001), globalization is an enterprise management feature, which increases liberalization of international trade and international competition. Needless to say, nowadays most of senior managers tend to plan their companies to go worldwide. In the early 1970s, MS expanded its international operation to purchase a 50 per cent shareholding of three Canadian companies for the first step. In November 1997 the company announced a 2,100 million GBP plan for global expansion which would be across Europe, the Far East and the Middle East (Bevan, 2002). 2.2. Micro Environment This part adopts Porter’s (1985) five-forceShow MoreRelatedStrategic Role Of Human Resource Management1550 Words   |  7 Pagespracticed in UK’s one of most known retail brand Marks Spencer. The company has been performing consistently well since its commencement. 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This Essay Will Critically Evaluate The Adoption995 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction This essay will critically evaluate the adoption of International Accounting Standards by UK companies. IAS (International Accounting Standards) created by IASC (International accounting standards committee) are a set of standards stating how particular types of transactions and other events should be reflected in financial statements. Since 2001 the IASB (International Accounting Standards Board) succeeded the IASC to create the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) which

Pinay Ako Free Essays

Pinay Ako â€Å"MANILA, Philippines- The inability of the Philippine economy to produce high-paying  jobs especially for women has pushed Filipinos to marry foreigners as a way to provide for their families, the study Country Gender Assessment by regional lender Asian Development Bank said. † 1 The research that was conducted last 2009 showed an estimate of 300,000 Filipinos of whom 92% are women, are married to foreigners mainly from United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea. Pinay ako (translated as I am a Filipina) and I dislike the fact that we are well-known to the world to be gold-diggers –yes, that is how they call us. We will write a custom essay sample on Pinay Ako or any similar topic only for you Order Now I never planned nor wanted to be one of them. I remember going to a church that does not support the trending 18-year-old-pinay-marrying-80-year-old-kano2. Unexpectedly, I met Jaimee, 20. My parents and relatives were against us. It is because aside from being too young, Jaimee is a foreigner from Kansas, USA. We have been through a lot of troubles and we have prayed and cried so many times to fight for the love. I guess it is true that things that are meant to be will always be. The more they pulled us away from each other, the more we got closer. He became my husband after a year. I am going to be different among typical Filipinas. I have always been ambitious and I think I will always be. Jaimee told me that this is one of the traits that he liked the most in me. If truth to be told, before I met him I never wished for marriage. I wanted to be independent and free. When I was still at university my primary goal was a booming career. I am more of a career woman. I love business. I love office. I actually worked in our family’s small factory and did college at the same time. When I married Jaimee I got new goals in life. First is my promise to be the best wife to him and the best mother to our future children. Second is to make a difference. I am going to be different among typical Filipinas. I am going to take a stand and become a model and inspiration. How to cite Pinay Ako, Essay examples