Mixed ability maths groups

Last week, I was lucky enough to be able to attend some maths PD at Hoon Hay School. I found the ideas that Wendy shared something that I have been thinking about over the last week.

I loved seeing the children in action, showing us how they did their problem solving. I did think about how we had been doing it in Kaupeka from the beginning of the year and that it was similar to this, I just think that they were going that little step extra with their students thinking.

The students that I talked to were really engaged and could tell me their thinking on the problems. I loved when they both showed each other how they got their answers, and then trying to prove to their partner that their answer was right. The teacher had obviously thought very carefully with whom she paired up together, and it worked so well.

I did think, how will this work in the junior school, but it was amazing! The students in year 0-2 were so engaged, and they were so good at telling you what they were doing, and how the got their answer. It was really fantastic seeing these students getting great exposure to real life situations in their maths learning.

I still have mixed feelings about mixed ability groupings but I am going to look into it more, and find some readings and evidence that this is the way forward. I can see that all students would think that they are great mathematicians with mixed ability groups and really this is what we want for all students.

What are your thoughts on mixed ability maths groups? and do you have any readings that I could read about this?

Behaviour Management

Behavior management is something that I need to focus on in the classroom. I need to make sure that when I deal with a behavior, that I follow up on it. 

Last week there was a student who was on rubbish duty for bad language, but chose not to do it. I was informed later in the day that the student chose not to do this duty. This is when I should have followed through, made sure that they were set up with all the resources needed to do the duty and taken them out to the teacher on duty. If you are the one that has given the duty not following through is going to make the student think that they can get away with things with you. 

This is not something that I want with year 7/8 students, they need to know that you will follow up everything otherwise they will take advantage of you. I am going to make sure that this is something that I always do in the future.

I feel that a better relationship with this student will improve their respect for me. I need to acknowledge when I see them doing the right thing rather than always pulling them up when they are off task and not doing the right thing.

My professional goal this year is going to be focusing on behavior management within the classroom. I know it's something that I will always need to be working on and I am going to do some research and find out some different strategies that I can use to improve my practice. 

Do you have any suggestions for readings?