Teaching in heterogeneous classes

In 2004, RAMA published a study that indicates the negative effect of group distribution and the effect of division into ability groups on the achievements of students in matriculation examinations in English (access the study here).

Following the publication of the study, (which also corroborates findings from many other studies), the Advisory Committee, headed by Prof. Penny Ur, decided to recommend a delay in distribution to English ability groups until the end of the seventh grade (with the exception of emergent readers who may have studied in separate groups earlier). Hence, it was decided to seek ways to help teachers deal with heterogeneous classes, through training and publishing teaching materials for middle school teachers who deal with a wide range of abilities, levels of knowledge, learning styles and other issues in the English classroom.

To address this need, a committee of experts and knowledgeable practitioners on the subject of teaching English in heterogeneous classes was formed to plan designated courses, monitor and respond to their impact and examine the overall assessment of the effectiveness of these courses. It was decided to publish a booklet for teachers, which includes a collection of activities and strategies for teaching English in heterogeneous classes. The booklet can be accessed here.