General Advice please re grouping according to ability DS yr 3??

[spudpudding]

Just wanted to check - DS yr 3 class grouped according to ability. Each group seems to be getting different homework and a couple of parents have mentioned comprehension that their child got seems a lot harder than my sons homework.

I am not being pushy, just can't understand if they are doing different work how some children are not going to naturally fall behind? any teachers out there??

I think that he is doing ok, and I am quite happy with his progress, just concerned as to how this can work??

any advice would be great, thanks

Each group needs to work at the appropriate level according to their current ability and understanding. That applies whether in school or at home. If everyone received the same homework the less able would struggle and fail to make progress as the content would be over their heads, the more able would find it too easy, would be bored and not be challenged enough. The middle children would be okay. This is how we weretaught in the old days! Don't let your desire for your child to be in a top set compromise his progress!

Not a teacher.

In an average yr3 class there may be one or 2 children working at say 1a, and others at maybe 3b (with majority on 2b at this time of year).

So some will already be 'behind' some of the others.

Having differentiated hw is surely better than pitching the hw to the middle, which is then too hard for some and not stretching for others.

What there should be is flexibility between groups, and the possibility that if a child clicks or struggles they move tables.

Apparently my child moved on 2 sub levels in reading comprehension over the summer holidays (?! according to results of assessments done end last term and start of this term) so she may well have moved 'up' a group from last term.

Differentiation means that each pupil gets the level of work which suits them, so they progress soundly. It's not a case of being 'left behind'.

It would be far worse if some children were struggling with work beyond them, while others were not progressing because the work is too easy.

Yes, mistakes can happen if the assessment of a pupil's work level goes wrong. If you think the level of work your DC has is too hard or to easy, go and speak to the teacher.

The urge to compare is almost irresistible if it's your eldest and how children progress is still something new to you, but it really isn't a good thing to do and won't help your DC in the long run.

As others have said your child each child needs to be given work to match their own ability. Too easy work is pointless, too hard is equally pointless. The teaching in school, should however be structured so that children are able to progress quickly or slowly according to the child - so children can move up and down the groups.

DS's school sets for maths, but they reassess the sets every half term (or more frequently) and children always move up and down - the top of one set being very similar to the bottom of the set above - and some children being identified as being better placed to work with a lower/higher group.
As an example, DS's best friend started Y3 in set 4 (of 5) and has gradually moved up, moving into set 1 at the start of Y5.

If the sets/groups are totally static this could be signs of a problem.

if you are happy with what he is getting then it sounds like it is all pitched correctly. Some children will be struggling with maths or literacy or both and therefore need work at their own level and pace in order for them to progress and also not lose confidence, others will be way ahead in one subject or another and equally need to be challenged. SO whilst some may have work harder than your son doesn't mean he is behind, he may indeed still be ahead, he just isn't quite as far ahead as they are.

so long as he has what is the right level for him. If you think it is too easy or too hard then speak to the teacher so she/he can look at it again.

I like this one "Don't let your desire for your child to be in a top set compromise his progress!" !

thanks great advice,

I really think that he is doing ok especially as he is a July birthday and also a boy.

I am not being pushy, and also try not to discuss homework with other parents. Others quite happy to do so!

thanks again for the advice.