This digest deals with within-class reading ability grouping. The digest discusses limitations of grouping; teacher attitudes; student recollections of ability grouping experiences; and grouping for specific purposes (focusing on cooperative learning and its benefits). The digest suggests that good teachers who provide supportive environments for…

Reading social studies content presents situations in which selected pupils have not been as successful in learning as they might have been. Fast learners may find the content exceptionally easy to read, thus learning does not become the challenge it should be. Slow learners may find the content too difficult to comprehend. There are a variety of…

This paper is a review of literature on tracking, a controversial educational practice. In this report, tracking means the use of separate classes and/or whole curriculum sequences for students considered to be of different ability levels. The trend in recent research is to find that tracking benefits only the gifted, or high track, students. Low…

Critics of ability grouping argue that, although the system permits instructional modification according to pupil ability level, it has harmful social and academic consequences for students in lower groups. This investigation asks two questions about the effects of grouping: First, does a student's within-class group rank affect his or her…

The purpose of this guide is to assist junior high physical education teachers to plan coeducational physical education classes in grades seven through nine as mandated by Title IX. A brief outline is presented of the physiological and psychological characteristics of junior high school students and how consideration of these factors may be used…

Uses the case of Ollie Taylor to illustrate how the power of school, the experience of learning, and how the myriad kinds of human intelligence are dealt with may deeply affect the evolution of a single life, asserting that tracking is a procedure for stratifying human groups that has colossal consequences. (Author/JM)

Reports on a debate on the relative merits of grouping language students according to abilities. (AM)

From Educational Leadership Research Supplement, volume 2, number 4, March 1969.

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM FOR TRAINING THE EDUCABLE MENTALLY RETARDED CHILD INCLUDES ON-THE-JOB TRAINING FOR WORK COMMENSURATE WITH THE CHILD'S ABILITIES, PREPARATION BEGINS AT AGE 16 WHEN THE STUDENT ENTERS HIGH SCHOOL. HOUSEHOLD ART, PERSONAL GROOMING, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE HEAVILY WEIGHTED IN THE CURRICULUMS FOR THE GIRLS. SHOP…

THE TRACK SYSTEM, ORGANIZED TO GIVE EVERY PUPIL A CHANCE FOR MAXIMUM SELF-FULFILLMENT, IS DISCUSSED. ABILITY GROUPING IS USED, SO IT IS BEST TO BE AWARE OF IT AND SYSTEMATIZE IT. SPECIAL PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL EDUCABLE PUPILS WHO DEVIATE WIDELY FROM THE NORM EITHER AS GIFTED OR SLOW. THE TRACK SYSTEM IMPROVES UPON THE ABILITY GROUPING…

RESEARCH FINDINGS ON ABILITY GROUPING ARE INCONCLUSIVE BECAUSE NEITHER HETEROGENEITY NOR HOMOGENEITY HAS BEEN DEFINED WITH SUFFICIENT CLARITY. THE TENDENCY IN THESE STUDIES HAS BEEN TO STRESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PUPILS IN SUCH CLASSES RATHER THAN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CLASS AS A WHOLE. IN A STUDY OF 181 CLASSES (4,705 PUPILS) HOMOGENEITY WAS…

THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY OF THE LOS ANGELES CITY SCHOOLS IS THAT EVERY PUPIL BE EXPECTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF HIS POTENTIALITIES, THAT EVERY PUPIL BE HELPED TO ATTAIN AS HIGH A LEVEL OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT AS IS POSSIBLE, THAT THERE BE DELIBERATE PLANS MADE TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, AND THAT MAXIMUM LEARNING SITUATIONS BE PROVIDED FOR…

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN GROUPING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SECTION HAS EXAMINED NUMEROUS RESEARCH STUDIES ON GROUPING. DISCUSSED ARE QUESTIONS CONCERNED WITH RELATIVE VALUES OF GROUPING CHILDREN ACCORDING TO NEED, SPECIAL ABILITIES, AND ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS. PREDICTIONS ON THE FUTURE OF…