Harebrained Idea #2

Why do we insist on students being with the same group all year long? Or for that matter all day long?

What if we had more flexible groupings? 

Assuming we followed the idea I posted in Harebrained Idea #1 what if we re-evaluated each student every 3 months or so, and if they had significant progress they moved to a new grouping?

What if we were even more flexible and were constantly assessing and ready to have a student move at any time?

What if the groupings changed depending on the subjects? In math you'd be in one group, and in PE you'd be in another group?

I recognize that the logistics of this would be quite challenging. But let's use an example.

Let's imagine a series of math and PE classes. Scheduling around available gym time is always a struggle. Have the Math and PE classes overlap in time.

Teach math using the Flipped or Blended model of teaching math using online tools. Then you could have every student working at their own pace in math class. 

Create PE classes based on skill level. And these could change depending on the topic being taught in PE. If you have someone who plays on a high level basketball team they could be in the advanced basketball class, but perhaps be in the beginner badminton class later in the same year.

Students leave their math classes whenever their PE class is, but it's not the same students leaving all the time. Math classes continue while PE is going on. Since each student will be moving at their own pace in math class they can just pick up where they left off when they return.

And this is only one example. What about Art, science, music, and more. It wouldn't be easy to figure out how to do it, but it is possible!

More in this series:
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is
Harebrained Idea #1
Harebrained Idea #2