I believe in the Academy structure all students are more motivated. I believe the lower achieving students experience success and realize they are not “dumb” or “slow” and begin to work harder to continue with their success. I believe standard students are less likely to be motivated when they are grouped in Standard / Advanced groupings. They can get by with thinking they are not held to a high standard because they are only “standard”.
The mixed ability grouping increases motivation for all students, but I feel the greatest difference is for the standard students. In the Standard/Advanced split, the standard students do not have high expectations for themselves. They view themselves as “just standard” and do not strive to compete/compare with the advanced students. Sometimes teachers also fall into this mindset with the standard classes. In the mixed-ability academies, the standard students are more motivated to achieve higher standards because they are held accountable for them by their teachers AND by their peers. They do not want to appear incapable of doing what the rest of the class is doing, therefore the effort is greater. With greater effort, they experience success and want to continue to do so.
Students in the mixed ability setting appear to be more motivated in regards to all aspects of their life. Since there is not the advanced or standard division, these students begin to not consider themselves as being better than others and look at each other as equal.
Mixed ability classes seem to have more students that are motivated. Peers encourage each other. It also helps with the "I'm standard. I shouldn't have to do ...." attitude.
Is this regarding Standard/Advanced and Mixed-Ability Academies?
ReplyDeleteYes, this question is referring to Standard/Advanced groups as compared mixed-ability groups.
ReplyDeleteI believe in the Academy structure all students are more motivated. I believe the lower achieving students experience success and realize they are not “dumb” or “slow” and begin to work harder to continue with their success. I believe standard students are less likely to be motivated when they are grouped in Standard / Advanced groupings. They can get by with thinking they are not held to a high standard because they are only “standard”.
ReplyDeleteThe mixed ability grouping increases motivation for all students, but I feel the greatest difference is for the standard students. In the Standard/Advanced split, the standard students do not have high expectations for themselves. They view themselves as “just standard” and do not strive to compete/compare with the advanced students. Sometimes teachers also fall into this mindset with the standard classes. In the mixed-ability academies, the standard students are more motivated to achieve higher standards because they are held accountable for them by their teachers AND by their peers. They do not want to appear incapable of doing what the rest of the class is doing, therefore the effort is greater. With greater effort, they experience success and want to continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteStudents in the mixed ability setting appear to be more motivated in regards to all aspects of their life. Since there is not the advanced or standard division, these students begin to not consider themselves as being better than others and look at each other as equal.
ReplyDeleteMixed ability classes seem to have more students that are motivated. Peers encourage each other. It also helps with the "I'm standard. I shouldn't have to do ...." attitude.
ReplyDelete