{"content":{"sharePage":{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"51844506","dateCreated":"1332100795","smartDate":"Mar 18, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"shenson3","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/shenson3","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/clustergroupingintheclassroom.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/51844506"},"dateDigested":1531977139,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"session 1 - cluster grouping","description":"I would love to visit this school and ovserve the classroom management and the planning sessions that have created these ideal classrooms. I was impressed by the use of technology too! I agree with the teacher who said you are more likely to plan for a gifted student if you have 6-8 of them in a class rather than having just one gifted student.","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"51897564","body":"Stevie, you touched briefly on classroom management and planning\/collaboration- both of which are crucial to the success of cluster grouping.
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\nI think when implementing differentiation and flexible grouping in the classroom, the teacher must be proactive in establishing guidelines for the students. The guidelines should include how to work independently, how to work with a group, what to do when you are finished, what to do when you need help, what resources you are allowed to use, etc. The list could go on and on. However, students will respond in surprising ways when they are allowed to take ownership of their own learning. When the teacher sets the expectations high for the students, they will likely rise to the occasion.
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\nAlso, teacher collaboration is critical. Juggling the planning for different ability and\/or readiness levels within a Cluster Grouped classroom can be challenging. Working in collaboration with other teachers is one effective way to not only lighten the workload, but also learn from other professionals in your school. When teachers work with other teachers in designing lessons and assessments, everyone benefits. The teachers are sharing ideas and learning new strategies, while the students get to reap the rewards of teachers who have put their minds together to come up with the best possible lessons, tasks, and assessments. It really is a win-win situation!
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\nThanks so much for participating in Session 1!","dateCreated":"1332199133","smartDate":"Mar 19, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"whitneyspillers","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/whitneyspillers","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1313452579\/whitneyspillers-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]},{"id":"50078010","dateCreated":"1328473589","smartDate":"Feb 5, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"whitneyspillers","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/whitneyspillers","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1313452579\/whitneyspillers-lg.jpg"},"monitored":false,"locked":false,"links":{"self":"https:\/\/clustergroupingintheclassroom.wikispaces.com\/share\/view\/50078010"},"dateDigested":1531977139,"startDate":null,"sharedType":"discussion","title":"Session 1 Discussion","description":"Research shows teachers are more likely to differentiate curriculum when Gifted students are grouped together in an otherwise heterogeneously mixed class. Do you agree with this assertion? Would you be interested in implementing the Schoolwide Cluster Model? Why or why not?","replyPages":[{"page":0,"digests":[{"id":"51707362","body":"I agree that teachers would be more likely to differentiate the curriculum; when there is a higher concentration of any one type of student in the classroom a teacher is going to have to take action to ensure that all students are being challenged. It will be more apparent to the teacher that the students are not learning or being challenged when there is a larger number exhibiting the same behaviors. I think that the Schoolwide Cluster Model has the potential to be beneficial; however, it may not be beneficial to all subject areas or students to be taught in this fashion. This model could place additional strain on the teacher due to the three different readiness levels that need to be catered to in each class.","dateCreated":"1331742994","smartDate":"Mar 14, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"danielmcelroy","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/danielmcelroy","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"51725972","body":"Daniel, You mention that it could be difficult for teachers to plan different activities for different readiness levels. This is can be a drawback of Cluster Grouping\/School-Wide Cluster Grouping Model; however, the idea is that the SCGM will actually limit the number of readiness groups in a class. With the number of readiness groups kept to a minimum of four, teachers can more effectively differentiate their instruction to meet students' diverse learning needs.
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\nIn "The Cluster Grouping Handbook" by Susan Winebrenner and Dina Brulles, the authors suggest the following class composition (p. 4):
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\n"Clasroom A": 6 students would be gifted, 12 average students, and 12 students would be below average.
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\n"Classroom B": there would be no gifted students, but there would be 6 high achievers, 12 average students, 6 below average students, and 6 students who are far below average.
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\nWhile this classroom composition might seem overwhelming at first, with pre-assessments (which we will discuss more in the next module), teachers can make informed decisions about how to differentiate their learning tasks to ensure that all students are being challenged.
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\nThanks for participating in Module One-Session 1!","dateCreated":"1331769568","smartDate":"Mar 14, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"whitneyspillers","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/whitneyspillers","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1313452579\/whitneyspillers-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"51745618","body":"I do agree that a teacher is more likely to differentiate cirrculum in a heterogeneous group once targeted readiness levels are identified. I feel a well organized Cluster Grouping model is beneficial in a school environment because, in most cases, gifted learner's needs are not met due to classroom teachers concerns with the students who may not meet the standards. Furthermore, with any educational model, teachers need on-going professional development to ensure that they are implementing the best (and most current) educational strategies for that model.","dateCreated":"1331819475","smartDate":"Mar 15, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"lbhorn","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/lbhorn","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"51822534","body":"Beth, You bring up several valid issues relating to Cluster Grouping. Researchers have found that Cluster Grouping is most successful when the Cluster teacher has training in Gifted Education. This teacher will\/should know how to differentiate the curriculum to ensure that at-risk students are meeting the standards while at the same time the gifted students who have mastered the standards are participating in tasks that require more complex reasoning and understanding.
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\nI also like that you brought up the need for on-going PD to ensure that teachers are implementing current educational practices. This is crucial to the successful implementation of any educational program. As a gifted educator, have you found any quality PD experiences that you benefited from? What would you think about teachers who are gifted certified leading PD experiences to assist other teachers?
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\nThanks for participating in Module One- Session 1!","dateCreated":"1331987892","smartDate":"Mar 17, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"whitneyspillers","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/whitneyspillers","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1313452579\/whitneyspillers-lg.jpg"}},{"id":"51851062","body":"I do agree with Cluster grouping and can see how it can truly between ALL learners, not only the Gifted students. Like Beth said its important that all students are identified based on readiness level. I have seen in so many cases where students who struggle with certain content will "shut down" and not want to participate. Implementation of this Cluster Grouping module can help to really meet student learners where they are and move them forward, especially working to exceed students. I think this works well and promotes IE2. It's all about the kids!","dateCreated":"1332115169","smartDate":"Mar 18, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"bneff1211","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/bneff1211","imageUrl":"https:\/\/ssl.wikicdn.com\/i\/user_none_lg.jpg"}},{"id":"51898168","body":"Becky,
\nYou are absolutely correct in Cluster Grouping being beneficial for ALL learners, not just our Gifted Students. All students in the classroom should have the opportunity to benefit from the same instructional options as the gifted students (pre-assessing, compacting, differentiation, flexible grouping, etc).
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\nThe groups within the cluster grouped classroom are intended to be fluid as we respond to the needs of the students. Since the groups are not static, the teacher has the freedom to regroup students as needed. This is crucial to the success of Cluster Grouping because we know students' needs will change throughout the year, especially as you move from one concept to another, i.e. algebra and geometry, biology and chemistry, etc. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the teacher to use pre-assessments and knowledge of his\/her students' learning preferences to create learning tasks that are within each students' Zone of Proximal Development. When learning goals are within the students' ZPD, he\/she will be less likely to become frustrated and "shut down".","dateCreated":"1332200184","smartDate":"Mar 19, 2012","userCreated":{"username":"whitneyspillers","url":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/view\/whitneyspillers","imageUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikispaces.com\/user\/pic\/1313452579\/whitneyspillers-lg.jpg"}}],"more":0}]}],"more":false},"comments":[]},"http":{"code":200,"status":"OK"},"redirectUrl":null,"javascript":null,"notices":{"warning":[],"error":[],"info":[],"success":[]}}