What are advantages of working with heterogeneous classes?

Question

What are advantages of working with heterogeneous classes?

Answer 1

Heterogeneous classes can be a challenge, but workable. Have some in-depth extra work for the advanced students while you have remedial material (presented differently) for the student who is a bit slower to master your subject.

Heterogeneity also lends itself to some very successful small group work, especially if there are students of different abilities on each group. If you can, find each student's forte and play to that. For instance, those who are creative and visual can always illustrate a concept while the language-adept students can write to explain.

It definitely is more work, but the results are very gratifying to both student and teacher. There is nothing like the look on a student's face who just "got it".

I'm a retired HS English teacher with over 35 yrs experience.

Answer 2

Clearly, the curriculum must be devised not to exclude the "slower" student in the heterogeneous group.  This will constitute an advantage for such a student - i.e., one who truly wishes to be educated.  The advantages (if any) for the brighter student in such a group are few and far between: perhaps social, but not academic.