This is the first week that I went to my internship at Mountain View Elementary School. The first thing that I noticed when I began observing on Monday was that the entire school was grouped across classrooms. I know this was a subject that we have previously talked about, but I wanted to note a few things that I observed so far.
First off, the school is a diverse school where nearly 80% of students are on Free/Reduced Lunc with about 250 students from k-5. There is a scheduled reading group time for 3-5 graders who are leveled off based on their reading level where special attention is paid on reading. Then students go back to their homerooms for the rest of the day.
To sum it up quickly...I am assigned to a 4th grade class where my teacher team teaches with another teacher, splitting up spelling and social studies (math and science for the other teacher). Between these two teachers, they have to large groups....the panthers (lower) and tarheels (ag and grade level). Within these groups there are at least two more groups depending on the subject.
Based on the first week of being in school these are the pros and cons of the grouping...
Pros: Students are on appropiate level...not at frustration level
Students are so used to grouping that its not viewed as negative
Students have the abilitiy to move up
Teachers are always making new or taking away groups if needed
Time seems to go by fast
Cons: Students are constantly moving and changing classrooms
Forgetful students come back and forth to classrooms
As soon as a lesson starts it seems they have to switch
Moving students down a level can effect self esteem
I feel that overall this school has created the grouping system to work well...I wanted to explain what I saw and see if anyone had any thoughts!!