Grouping students for different communicative

GROUPING STUDENTS FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNICATIVE
ACTIVITIES - ADI ISMA – [e-mail]
2
DISCUSSION
A. Selecting the Grouping Students
In selecting the grouping students, the teacher can determine the students’
group by several options.
1. Ability Grouping
Although controversial, ability grouping is one method of grouping
students. With this method, the teacher would look at the ability of each student,
and place him in a group with other students with the same ability. So for example
the advanced math students will all be placed together in a group, just as the
advanced reading students are all in their own group. These groups may look
different based on the subject and abilities in the classroom.
The teacher can also use ability grouping to specifically group students
with different abilities. Spreading the student abilities throughout each group is
heterogeneous grouping, and allows students of all abilities to assist each other.
Slavin (1987:108) defined ability grouping as "some means of grouping
students for instruction by ability or achievement so as to reduce their
heterogeneity”. An added rationale is that students are easier to manage and keep
attentive in smaller groups (Hallinan & Sorensen, 1983: 55). Furthermore, as
Kerckhoff (1986: 67) pointed out, high ability students can move faster without
having to slow down for their less competent friends on the one hand, and on the
other, low ability students can benefit from this segregation in that the teachers
can provide them with an appropriate curriculum and pace of instruction.
The purpose of ability is to facilitate the satisfaction of the needs of all
students. In the past it has been observed that in heterogeneous groups, the slower
learner and the gifted are frequently slighted. Ability grouping is one method that
is being used to develop each individual to the best of his ability.

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