I have a theory about DS's Y2 classroom group names....

[treacletart]

DS has until recently been having extra literacy help, he's very happy at school and we're lucky enough not to have any concerns with how he's getting on. Now,I know I shouldn't be getting competitive but humour me on this one.....

The class splits into groups for classwork. He's in "Circles" alongside at least one other boy I know finds his work challenging. DS has told me of 2 other boys in "Hexagons" who I know are very advanced readers.

Could it be the more sides your shape the more advanced your group perchance? Waddyareckon?

Too obvious... nah.

Well my sons class (year 5) is now 'A' 'B' and 'C' groups

He is in the 'C' group

Nothing like a bit of motivation for them eh

and very original group names too i must say

That wouldnt work with my DDs class. They also have shape names, but the number of sides doesnt correspond to the level of the group.

My friend thinks this is the reason for our group names. They are the same. Circles etc

Ds's class has Snails, Spiders and Centipedes.

His teacher said they're not ability grouped but maybe the more legs the more able.

I know a class that has the top group as circles....

I think different teachers do it differently for different reasons.

In my class I have cirlces as the lower group, squares as my middle group and triangles as my higher group. So your theory doesn't work in my room!

hmmmm think I might be on yto something here ;)

lower down the school my son was in the circles group (now translated as the 'C' group) and squares were middle and triangles top.

Oh my son's in dodecahedrons dontcha know!

cece I've read and re read your post and I'm sure the OP is saying the same thing. Circles for the less able group etc. And that's what you wrote...so her theory does work!

notsoteenagemum- i know i am a massive cynic but i wouldn't believe them when they say they are not ability streamed as how are they to differentiate work otherwise. Sometimes its a fob off so parents won't be over competitive about groupings in the lower years of primary i reckon.

yes but squares have 4 sides and are my middle group. My higher group are triangles and have just 3 sides. So the number of sides does not increase with ability...

Oh ok cece

LOL

I am pregnant and tired. I should def not be in the triangles!

yes, damn triangles and there blooming advanced brains! Lets here it for the circles! Woooooo hooo!

how many boys:girls are there in your circles group cece?

This year circles have 6 boys and 1 girl

Triangles have 7 girls and 2 boys

Lots of different ways of doing this, can be school policy or teachers' habits.

My old school used to have triangles at the top as they were pointing up, then squares, then rectangles, then circles (back to the less sides thing). This was for maths.

The Stars are generally a lower group.

Bear in mind there will be lots of different groupings, eg seating (probably mixed), maths, reading, writing etc.

I knew a teacher years ago who named his maths groups after wood Oak, Beech, Elm, etc and Planks.

So wouldn't get away with that now!

I'm feeling for the circles!

I'm pregnant and hormonal....

In the Y1 class I work in we have Spiders, Butterflies, Ladybirds and Caterpillars. They are ability groups but I don;t think the names have any releavnce.

In my study support group I have Beetles, Grasshoppers, Beetles and Bumblebees. They are not ability groups.

cece - that says sooooo much to me. Thank you.

In my sons class - 14 children on School Action 1 girl, 13 boys

I would love to know what the ratio is in all primaries.

BTW this is just for maths! Literacy groups and topic groups have different names

Yes but another year the ratio would be completely different. As might be the size of the groups. Two of those boys this year have statements.

My Y2 DS has encyclopedias, dictionaries, and then another group is oxford, collins etc - last year they had lasagne, pizza etc (class name was Italy!)