I wasn’t familiar with the proposal so had to do some research to get caught up. Looks like Mamdami wants to still have GT starting in 3rd grade and just wants to get rid of it for K-2.
An interestingly nuanced issue, can’t say I have a strong opinion either way. I’m a fan of GT and getting kids challenging material even in kindergarten. I also think it’s important to mix ability levels when you can and get students teaching other students.
Maybe as a campaign issue it will lead to good discussions of how to deliver more individualized instruction across the board.
Gabe, you are quite correct that Mamdani was referring to the early grades. Having been involved in education in multiple roles and levels, including university, the trend has been against ability grouping. At a high school I taught in, the principal indicated he was going to do away with honors classes. I went to his office and told him if he did, I would go to the newspapers, something I had done before. The next day he rescinded the reduction in honors courses. Ironically, the Principal's son, who attended another high school, was a leader in the district-wide Model Senate, which I ran for all the high schools in Germany. His son greatly benefitted from it. The system spent quite a bit of money on transporting everyone to the site, hotels, train fares etc.
Gabe, I totally agree with you that the better students can help the others, particularly in elementary school. In high school, class discussions help everyone learn, but if we track by ability grouping, teacher can plan and alter the curriculum for the differing levels that takes pressure off the kids in the fundamentals classes who strain to keep up.
My daughter was supposed to be the Salutatorian of her high School class, but the principal nixed it. She angrily told me it wasn't fair to single out one kid. Thus, four years of hard work is less important than being recognized as the MVP of the football team.
Thanks, Ken. I taught TAG for around three years and was very familiar with the various programs. I'm sure Susan knows the Triad program adopted by DODDS. There was some good stuff, but too much emphases on "creativity," and not enough on higher level learning.
I wasn’t familiar with the proposal so had to do some research to get caught up. Looks like Mamdami wants to still have GT starting in 3rd grade and just wants to get rid of it for K-2.
An interestingly nuanced issue, can’t say I have a strong opinion either way. I’m a fan of GT and getting kids challenging material even in kindergarten. I also think it’s important to mix ability levels when you can and get students teaching other students.
Maybe as a campaign issue it will lead to good discussions of how to deliver more individualized instruction across the board.
Gabe, you are quite correct that Mamdani was referring to the early grades. Having been involved in education in multiple roles and levels, including university, the trend has been against ability grouping. At a high school I taught in, the principal indicated he was going to do away with honors classes. I went to his office and told him if he did, I would go to the newspapers, something I had done before. The next day he rescinded the reduction in honors courses. Ironically, the Principal's son, who attended another high school, was a leader in the district-wide Model Senate, which I ran for all the high schools in Germany. His son greatly benefitted from it. The system spent quite a bit of money on transporting everyone to the site, hotels, train fares etc.
Gabe, I totally agree with you that the better students can help the others, particularly in elementary school. In high school, class discussions help everyone learn, but if we track by ability grouping, teacher can plan and alter the curriculum for the differing levels that takes pressure off the kids in the fundamentals classes who strain to keep up.
My daughter was supposed to be the Salutatorian of her high School class, but the principal nixed it. She angrily told me it wasn't fair to single out one kid. Thus, four years of hard work is less important than being recognized as the MVP of the football team.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Great comment, Fred, just as timely now as it was in 1997.
Thanks, Ken. I taught TAG for around three years and was very familiar with the various programs. I'm sure Susan knows the Triad program adopted by DODDS. There was some good stuff, but too much emphases on "creativity," and not enough on higher level learning.