SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

The Narrowing Gap

An interesting discussion is unfolding in our "'Secret' Principles of Direct Instruction" thread concerning the best way to handle the wide variations in academic ability among children. This article from our archives examines the Swiss approach whereby kindergarten children are kept together academically, even though it means that the more advanced children must move forward very slowly at first. The author postulates that the slow start is good for all of the children, even the abler ones, and in time the whole group achieves a very high performance level.