Inquiry - Mixed Ability Groupings UPDATE

I am in my third week of doing the mixed ability groups with my students. The first week was really interesting. I grouped them boys with boys and girls with girls. This pairing worked ok but I felt like it was not the best for the students. They did work well together and knew what was expected of them but were not as engaged as I expected them to be. They began using the card that was given to them with questions and prompts that they could ask their buddy. They knew that they had to share back the following day. It was not about getting it right but talking with their buddy and working out how they could find an answer together.

The following day we went and shared back with some of the senior students. They modelled what was expected and used maths language with them. The senior students were great role models and showed them the process of sharing back and being accountable.

The next day as a class we shared back. The students used this card to help clarify any thinking of their peers as they were sharing back.

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After week 3, the students told me that they have really been enjoying maths problem solving and want to keep doing it. They are talking together, being cooperative and supporting each other.

The next part that I want to introduce is more maths talk and questioning.

If you have any suggestions on how I can get them to do this, I would appreciate you sharing.

Peer Mediation set up

Week 2:
The last few weeks have been used for setting up the Peer Mediation program in our school. 

Alongside the Assistant Principal we have researched and set the students up to run this successfully in the school. The students have had one session talking about expectations and have been given skills to help them solve simple problems that they may come across in the playground. The students are aware that with bigger problems they need to get a duty teacher. 

The students will be out in the playground as of today and we are hoping that we have some positive interactions with the younger children. 


Throughout the year the students will be given many opportunities to show their skills and earn peer mediation badges.This will be set up over the next term and introduced to the students over the course of the Peer Mediation sessions in class.

Week 3: Update.
The students have had one week out in the playground, I have had some really good feedback about individual students who are doing a great job.

The Deputy Principal ran a session on Restorative Practice and the steps to use to resolve the problem. The students responded well to this and will be able to hopefully this week will put it into practice in the playground. This session was great for my own learning as well and well and made me think how important the Restorative Practice is to our school. 

I have learnt that this process is a great way to make sure that all students get to have their say and that they are heard. When I am out on duty now I will have more confidence using this process and this re cap was just what I needed.