At what age can we start separating kids educationally so some kids don't have to wait for others to catch up?

Question

I know when kids start taking individual classes they have the ability to take "advanced" classes, but that is usually in middle school. Should we move it up sooner, maybe all the way to kindergarten? I was helping in a kindergarten class and noticed that the teacher spent most of the time with kids who didn't know their letters (or how to spell their names) and the kids who could be self sufficent were hardly talked to. Are these kids going to get stagnant if they have to wait for the other kids to catch up?

Answer 1

The intermediate level 4th and 5th is a good time to start...

Answer 2

You have hit on a really hot topic. I have taught in public school for 19 years. I truly believe that a heterogenious mixture of students is the best learning environment for all children. The classroom should resemble the world that our children will live in when they leave the classroom.
Just because I have some students that need more help to learn the ABCs does not mean that the other children are not mean that the other children are not involved in meaningful learning activities. If I work with one group now, another group will get the help later. Just because I am not with a child does not mean he or she is not learning.
Teachers should be well trained in differientiation of education. Within my mixed ability group class, my students are often group according to ability. All children get instruction in reading and math on their level. These groups are ever changing because not all students are good at everything.
Students share a great deal. We discuss how we get our answer. Students learn from each other. And yes, there are many times when my more advanced learners learn from children who are not as academically gifted as they are.
Children are engaged in extensions and extra research projects and experiments. They are certainly not stagnant.
I have also found that when given the tools for exploration my gifted children have never been bored. I often find that I'm bored is an excuse that means, "I don't to work or use my mind." Learning is hard work sometimes and it isn't something that can be spoonfeed.
If a parent has concerns that their child's needs aren't being met, they should meet with a teacher and together outline a growth plan for continued academic progress. There are some very good books from Pieces of Learning,Dr. Bertie Kingore,Nathan Levy and Dr. Chuck Chernosky.

Answer 3

While not politically correct and in direct opposition the "No Child Left Behind" mandate, I think that children should be separated right away. The normal and gifted students are cheated out of a proper education because of what you saw; the teacher must spend most of his/her time with the slower students. The students should be separated by ability and disability. Specialists should teach the disabled and gifted students and teachers can handle everyone else.

The argument that the disabled lose out by not being integrated is ludicrous. They will not be integrated in real life so why the charade? Their parents want to assuage the guilt they feel (and there is no reason for them to feel guilty) by living the fantasy that the child will end up with a normal life. Real life means we are separated by ability; the doctors, dentists and attorneys live away from the fast food employees and parking lot attendants. The disabled students will grow up to become disabled adults. A few will have "normal" jobs but the majority will not.

We are raising generations of mediocre students because our educational system RETARDS their education by concentrating on the disabled and not on the able. Johnny can't read because the teacher isn't allowed to teach.

Answer 4

My sons kindergarten class was seperated into groups so the smarter ones could excell at their pace and not have to keep up with the ones who were slower. Now he is in 1st grade and he is still one of the highest in his class along with 4 other kids. They are in a special group which gets harder work to do and they go to a 2nd grade class for reading. His teacher is great and recognizes that these kids are ahead of the others. I also home school my son with my own homework. He knew sign language before he could talk, and started reading at age 3. I work with the developmentally disabled so I guess I am a natural born teacher. Most everything I do with him is in some way a learning lesson. One thing he really enjoyed was using Crayola washable markers in the bath. I would write letters or words for him to guess and he could practice writing them himself. We would draw pictures and play guess what I drew! When the bath is finished just wipe the markers off the bathtub wall with a wet washcloth. So, don't leave it up to the pre-school teachers, take matters into your own hands and teach your child as much as you can - it has really made my son love 1st grade! Good Luck!

Answer 5

When I was in grammar school - little did you know that they were already doing this to you. They had three teachers for each grade. Slow, Medium, and Advanced. Not to say slow was slow. They also had the G&T Class where special students went to improve their knowledge and abilities.
Before I started Kindergarten I knew my abcs 123s, how to spell my name, my address, and my phone number. Kids that did not know at at least 123s and abcs or how to spell their name were taught by the teacher - those who did played with Clay and crayons, and plastic scissors, etc. I think it's up to the parents to make sure their children know the minimum before even sending them to their first year.

Answer 6

I dont think children should be seperated at all. I understand were you are coming from but I think back to when I was in Primary( 5-111). I was always bright and my teacher sent me out to help the other children understand when i was finished and I think i was able to get the children to understand better then the teacher. This scenario helped both myself and the children struggling. Seperating children will only create a stigma amongst them and in this day and age of racism, sexism etc who needs more encouragement about creating more bridges between intellectual abilities. This can certainly work for all ages as I have been a kinder teacher for the last 10 years. Your kinder teacher needs to look at the activities she puts out for the children and makes sure they are appropriate for all levels of abilities.

Answer 7

Yes it is true that the kids that are lagging do receive more attention. However even in Elementary there are program (GATE- Gifted And Talented Education) that each child can apply for and if accepted can begin as early as Kinder to get taught at this higher level. As for the others, we have to appreciate how difficult a teachers job is and if possible make ourselves available to assist allowing for her to focus on the greatest need. After all, it is important that all children learn and understand . Those who have a better grip on it should be mentors to those who don't.

Answer 8

The answer is NEVER. Well, not until career preparation begins.

If our schools had the resources that they need, and the teachers were prepared, and the focus was on REAL learning and not on good looking test scores, then the needs of every student in the classroom would be met.

After high school we must work in the community and the community is not divided according to IQ. WE must learn to work effectively and compete and cooperate with everyone. Some students who struggle in school later on become quite successfull.

Differentiated instruction in mixed ability classrooms in which all students are successfull is possible and I've seen it done. And it's worth doing.

Answer 9

when my son was in 1st grade he was more advanced than some other children..he was also hyper..what his teacher did was had him helping some other children that were slower..it worked out really great..she rewarded both children..both children felt important..i think that is what should be done in all classrooms..kids get along better too..my son couldn't wait to help others...like the old saying goes..where there is a will there is a way...you know it and i know it teachers are overbooked with the class sizes..i think it is time for parents and teachers to come up with solutions on their own...some things you might want to advise the parent on when wanting your child to take on such a big task by another child

Answer 10

This is a good point. I was always frustrated with the agonizingly slow pace of the curriculum when I was in school. I fear that, like me, my children will get bored in school and grow disinterested.

Teachers should work at the pace of the smarter students sot they will not get bored. This will force the less gifted students to work harder to catch up, which will improve their intelligence. This way everybody wins.

Answer 11

Excellent point. I think we should separate students in academic groups from preschool onward. Call the groups different names like "Tiger" and "Lion". Have the groups join together for lunch, recess, and story/nap time.