Education psychologists argue, there are individual differences in learners. Therefore, in deft management of the candidate class, schools that access success in KCSE focus on ability grouping as one of the best academic practices. After completion of syllabus, they should serve a serious exam in the candidate class. Then, cluster candidates based on academic abilities. Classes are not fixed like Laws of Medes and Persia. The next serious exams can lead to formation of new ability groups.
A well-staffed school should even know teachers who can handle different calibre of candidates based on abilities. In the general sense, top achievers and struggling students. Somehow, a staff or a particular department is like a football team. For the team to score and scoop victory, every team member should know whether s/he is a stupendous striker, middle-field star or deft defender. Ideally, there are five approaches to ability grouping, which include: General abilities, subject-based, academic villages, parenting groups or family units and pairing of students.
- General Abilities
In this academic model, the school can come up with classes based on the general academic ability of students in the candidate class. In a class of 150 students, the school can come up with three streams – top 50, middle 50 and bottom 50. This approach can help teachers to fatten (push) the head, as they cut (reduce) the size of the tail. Those who have cache of experience in the noble art of dispensing knowledge, know, there is nothing challenging as assisting students with mixed abilities, or the ones on extreme ends. That is why we must think about all the abilities. Push top achievers. As we assist struggling students.
In the whole scheme of things, teachers should be careful on how they introduce ability groups so that they do not balkanise and antagonise the class. In case it is not well-thought-out, the bottom class may decide to engage in self-pity and weld themselves together as a camp of cheerful pessimists. They may fail to try, and just cry. Those who are at home with Self-fulfilling prophesies (Golem, Pygmalion or Rosenthal and Galatea Effects) are also cognizant of the fact that this has a far-reaching effect on the psyche and psychology of learners.
READ ALSO: Understanding Career Pathways Competency-Based Curriculum
To veer off a bit, just as a family set up, children are not the same. But they all belong to the same parent or guardian. Like the fingers of a human being, children are different. Therefore, a wise parent employs different parenting skills and styles. You cannot use the same script in the theatre of parenting. Somewhat, you cannot raise the last born the way you brought up the first-born. Change in climes and times, call for change of tact.
- Subject-Based
In this approach, subject teachers group students according to the performance in their subjects. They should go ahead and organise one-on-one incisive conferencing sessions with each group. The end-in-mind should be the bottom group should score above a C- (minus) in their subjects.
- Academic Villages
In this case, teachers group students based on their common targets or aspirations. This style can take care of repeaters, members of the student council, peer counsellors, top achievers, et cetera. Teachers should take care of every academic village. As they push the groups to operate at their ultimate best. Some schools have students who are top achievers, who in real sense, can feature in the top 20, top 100 or can be the valedictorians of the year. This calibre of Form Four candidates should get a serious push and be made to stretch beyond elastic limits. Or else, they can choose to become complacent, settle for less, and be prone to mediocrity: Being on top of the bottom.
- Parenting Groups
Parenting groups are also known as family units. In this model, schools constitute and consolidate families. Students are assigned teacher-parents to help them set targets. Teachers, who are surrogate parents in this case, should discuss familial matters. There should be regular meetings to provide direction, focus, and keep them on the right track. Candidates should not operate on laissez faire.
- Students pairing
One of the stupendous strategies we have been sharing with struggling students is that they should pair up with top achievers. As the highfliers commit themselves in helping the struggling students through peer teaching, they attain marvelous mastery of content. In the long run, this infusion and collation of abilities, props up the poor performance of struggling students.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out academic talks and training services. He builds the capacity of teachers on best academic practices and deft management of the candidate class.
vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news