Schools often track students to classes based on ability. Proponents of tracking argue it is a low-cost tool to improve learning since instruction is more effective when students are more homogeneous, while opponents argue it exacerbates initial differences in opportunities without strong evidence of efficacy. In fact, little is known about the…

The micro-level enactment of educational policy has received little attention in the physical education [PE] literature, particularly as it relates to setting policy. This study employs enactment theory to provide original insights into the ways in which setting policy was enacted by PE teachers in three mixed-gender secondary schools in England.…

Graphs are often used to represent mathematical functions, to illustrate data from social and natural sciences, or to specify scientific theories. With increasing emphasis on the development of scientific research skills, the work with graphs and data interpretation are gaining in importance. The research involved an eye-tracking experiment…

This study is conducted in Norway, this study investigated data from a case study with two science teachers. The Norwegian school system is built upon the principle of equality for all students. The idea is that comprehensive school is best suited to provide equal opportunities in school and society. The only criteria for group affiliation are…

Schools often track students to classes based on ability. Proponents of tracking argue it is a low-cost tool to improve learning since instruction is more effective when students are more homogeneous, while opponents argue it exacerbates initial differences in opportunities without strong evidence of efficacy. In fact, little is known about the…

In the educational literature on peer effects, attention has been brought to the fact that the mechanisms creating peer effects are still to a large extent hidden in obscurity. The hypothesis in the study reported in this article was that the Frame Factor Theory (FFT) can be used to reveal such mechanisms. Using data from the Swedish TIMSS 2015 (N…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of ability grouping on game performance and physical activity levels of elementary school students during an invasion game. Method: Forty-eight fifth-grade students (22 girls) participated in eight games of "Over the Line Ball." Four of these games saw students in…

This paper explores strategic grouping in a Southern, suburban high school mathematics classroom. Two grouping techniques were implemented on review days in Algebra II classes in which composition based on ability varied strategically. The researcher examined the Alternate Ranking Method for Grouping compared to normal heterogeneous grouping for…

Our aim was to understand the adaptation process, belonging to Turkish culture, ethnic identity development among Syrian students arriving in Turkey and how they develop a sense of belonging and adapt their identities to become integrated into Turkish life and education. In this study, qualitative method and phenomenological research design were…

In this two-part study, high-ability students' experiences of need support, need satisfaction, and motivation in regular and pull-out classes were compared. Quantitative results from Study 1 indicated that high-ability students (N = 203) reported more satisfaction of their needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and more favorable…

A problem at three elementary schools in an Appalachian state was that some or all instructors were struggling to implement differentiated instruction in the classroom. Because differentiation is a research-based best practice, teachers should be consistently using this strategy to meet the varying needs found within the inclusive classroom.…

Many urban public schools are often perceived as inclusive due to the demographics of their diverse student populations. This myth of inclusivity reifies notions of equity in both education and broader society. However, upon closer inspection, this myth of inclusion crumbles once immersed within an urban high school. In this article, I present the…

School-based learning experiences are often designed with the "typical" student in mind. However, this may not be an optimal approach, given the variability of prior learning that exists in most classrooms. We investigated the variance in achievement within U.S. fourth- and eighth-grade mathematics classrooms using Trends in…

Within the wealth of research on 'ability' in education, there is a missing perspective: the perspective of the child. Whilst 'ability' informed practices such as 'ability' grouping are commonplace in the UK, how these are experienced by the young child has previously received only limited attention in research. Using case study evidence, this…

Many kindergarten teachers use ability groups to differentiate instruction in reading and math. Ability group placement should depend primarily on student achievement, but critics charge that placement is biased by socioeconomic status (SES), gender, and race/ethnicity. We predict group placement in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study of the…