Ask a kid who's struggling in math if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he feels like a moron. Ask the math genius if he likes being in a mixed-level class, and he'll tell you he's sick of doing all the work during group projects. Sometimes, it's better to sort like with like.
In a mixed-level class, students with varying abilities often have contrasting experiences. For a child who struggles with math, the environment can be discouraging, leading them to feel inadequate compared to their peers. Similarly, a more advanced student might feel burdened by the expectation to carry the workload during collaborative group projects, resulting in frustration.
This highlights the challenges of mixed-level learning environments. While diversity can foster collaboration, it can also lead to feelings of incompetence and imbalance in participation. Therefore, it may be more beneficial to group students by similar skill levels to enhance their learning experience.
