No maths groups! Wow.... this is different.
What am I talking about?
Working with Bobbie Hunter again as part of our Professional Development in maths. The idea behind mixed ability groupings is a tricky concept to take on board (at least after having levelled groups since my practicum days), but I'm giving it a go. The idea is that to be able to learn through discussion and argumentation, there must actually be a range of ideas to discuss and argue. Therefore by streaming the groups you limit the idea pool.
Spilt the class in half
This is totally different. Giant groups to launch the programme. Social groupings, i.e. groupings that will help produce talking, discussion, and argumentation. What this could mean, is that you see your giant groups on alternate days. At this point I can't manage the other half of my class well, without at least seeing them for 10-15 minutes, so I'm fitting them in at the end.
Once the problem has been launched the learners are given about 15 minutes in small groups (4) to solve the problem together, they have to talk, and they have to work together.
#givingitago
What am I talking about?
Working with Bobbie Hunter again as part of our Professional Development in maths. The idea behind mixed ability groupings is a tricky concept to take on board (at least after having levelled groups since my practicum days), but I'm giving it a go. The idea is that to be able to learn through discussion and argumentation, there must actually be a range of ideas to discuss and argue. Therefore by streaming the groups you limit the idea pool.
Spilt the class in halfThis is totally different. Giant groups to launch the programme. Social groupings, i.e. groupings that will help produce talking, discussion, and argumentation. What this could mean, is that you see your giant groups on alternate days. At this point I can't manage the other half of my class well, without at least seeing them for 10-15 minutes, so I'm fitting them in at the end.
Once the problem has been launched the learners are given about 15 minutes in small groups (4) to solve the problem together, they have to talk, and they have to work together.
#givingitago
Quite a scary thing to let go of every prior experience with teaching Maths to implement this. I get you were also taught Maths as a kid in ability groups too. It is providing an interesting learning opportunity for me as I watch our expert teachers grapple with this mind shift in teaching Maths. I am asking teachers in schools around the country to conduct a similar mindshift as they implement the Manaiakalani Programme. This is giving me renewed empathy for them and I hope I will be more attuned to the genuine nature of the range of emotions and responses engendered in the early days.
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