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?