Hi Laura I have found it depends on the activity. For reading I make sure all students in Book Clubs are reading a book that is at the just right level for them and once that is in place it doesn't matter to me who is in the group. Students that I have that are part of the inclusion program have always had a wide variety of needs and abilities socially and intellectually. For me it is about building community at the front end, or beginning of the year, and that has huge pay off for everyone. For reading I begin the year with two novels that I read to the students while they listen and respond in writing and then we discuss in our grand conversation circle. This way I model how and what happens in a book club with direct conversations and appropriate ways to converse etc. Reading is a social activity and their are social graces if you will that need to be learned. The gradual release comes in the second novel I read and structure a bit differently. So by the time we finish the second novel they are ready to read in Book Clubs and try it on their own.
Grouping is powerful because it creates social communities and students learn to work with and appreciate others this way and learn that we all perceive things differently at times, and we can gain new learning and insights from others etc. So my thoughts are know the students abilities not only cognitively but also socially and emotionally as all these enter into the dynamics of group work. If you, as the teacher, have not modeled and gradually released them into group work it will more than likely fall flat very flat. Susan Cronk, MS,NBCT On Fri, Aug 8, 2008 at 10:33 AM, Laura Taylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi! My name is Laura Veldman, I am in Dr. Creech's reading strategies class > at Wayne State University. My major is Cognitively Impaired and I hope to > teach an inclusive lower elementary classroom. Throughout my courses, I have > learned that grouping your student is a very powerful tool that can be used. > Does anybody have any suggestion as to how I could group my students > (according to abilities?) so all of the group members have equal benefits > with the lesson? Thanks!! > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
