Teenagers: Teaching mixed-ability teens
Many teachers complain that they have problems dealing with classes that are mixed ability. This section attempts to provide some suggestions for dealing with mixed-ability classes.
Many teachers complain that they have problems dealing with classes that are mixed ability. The characteristics of such classes are:
- While some students follow the lesson and are able to answer questions and do well in tests, others fall behind, don’t seem to understand and do badly in tests.
- While some students pay attention and are cooperative, others ‘misbehave’ and seem disinterested.
- Teachers feel concerned that they are not challenging the high-achievers enough and at the same time are not giving enough help to those who are not doing as well.
- Teachers find it hard to ‘pitch’ their lessons at a level where all students can be engaged.
In the past teachers may well have said that the problem was just that some students were cleverer or simply ‘better’, but we now understand that the situation is more complex than that. Our students are indeed mixed in many ways. They are different in terms of their levels of:
- Attention
- Interest
- Motivation
- Learning styles
- Types of intelligences
- Physiological needs
- Psychological needs
- Speed
- Maturity
- World knowledge
- Knowledge of and about English
And you can probably think of other areas in which they differ e.g. girls and boys who in their class may be the same age, but may behave and respond very differently, because girls generally mature more quickly than boys.
In order to give all students the chance to benefit from their lessons it is vital to take into account their differences and plan lessons or activities within the lesson accordingly.
Tips for teaching mixed-ability teens
Mixed-ability teens: Addressing all of the students
Understanding that we need to address all the students in the class.
Mixed-ability teens: Managing mixed-level classes
Understanding that students are at different levels of English.
Mixed-ability teens: Graded dictation
Techniques for dealing with mixed ability students: graded dictation.
Mixed-ability teens: Managing different speeds and energy levels
Understanding that students work at different speeds and energy levels.
Mixed-ability teens: Managing different learning styles
Understanding that students have different learning styles.
Mixed-ability teens: Outside knowledge
Understanding that students come to class with a lot of knowledge of things other than English.
Mixed-ability teens: Problem-solving
Techniques for dealing with mixed ability students: problem-solving.
Mixed-ability teens: Allowing students to work at their own level
Understanding that students need to work at their own level.