www.cambridgeenglish.org
Back to Blog page (/blog)
Overcoming the challenges of teaching
mixed ability children
Overcoming the challenges of teaching mixed ability
children
by Cambridge English (/blog/authors/cambridge-english/), 06/10/2020
Classroom (/blog/categories/Classroom/) , Teaching (/blog/categories/teaching/) , Schools
(/blog/categories/schools/)
Monica Poulter explained how teachers can support mixed ability classes as learners move back to the
classroom in her session at the Cambridge Live Experience.
Challenges for English teachers
The months ahead pose many challenges to learners and teachers as they go back to the physical
classroom (/your-new-classroom/index.aspx). Teachers’ priorities though will not have changed as they
strive to ensure every English language learner makes progress regardless of their current language level.
Understanding learners is key to knowing how they differ from each other. This includes taking into
account differences in the areas of ability motivation, interests, personality, parental support and the
progress they have made during the global pandemic.
Solid Teaching Strategies
Monica Poulter discussed these challenges with other English teachers at the Cambridge Live Experience
(/news/view/cambridge-live-experience-2020-games-can-help-children-learning-english-in-class-or-online/), an
event organised to help teachers get ready for the unpredictable months ahead. She worked for many
years at Cambridge Assessment English and now teaches English online. She shared some practical tips
and strategies that English teachers can use to support mixed ability classes as learners make the
transition back to the classroom.
Identify the challenges
As English teachers around the world return to teaching either physically or online, they know they will
almost certainly come across the challenge of teaching mixed ability classrooms.
Responding to differences between learners is what is known as differentiation and the gap between
learners could be wider than ever when we consider the different levels of support students have received
during lockdown. For this reason it’s essential that teachers use effective strategies to get the best from
their class and ensure that learning continues.
Tips to overcome the challenges in the classroom
Monica emphasised the importance of showing great adaptability and making sure that challenges and
tasks are set at appropriate levels and are designed to engage learners. She pointed at how mixed abilities
throw up challenges across all four of the key language skills and the importance of setting challenges
and tasks at the right level.
For example, teachers can set challenges associated with reading tasks that can be increased or reduced
according to their students’ abilities – pointing to the fact that in one class they can have fast readers,
slow readers and students who do not like reading.
She demonstrated the use of visuals to engage readers, and stressed the importance of providing
extension tasks for ‘fast finishers’. Monica demonstrated how teachers can support writing tasks at
different levels by using frames, where students have to fill in the blanks as opposed to writing a whole
piece. She also discussed how they can make the best use of contact time through an integrated skills
approach at higher levels.
She ended by showing how classroom management techniques and use of teacher language can ensure
an inclusive classroom.
Help for teachers
The Cambridge Live Experience was organised by Cambridge Assessment English and Cambridge
University Press English Language Teaching. It included a packed programme of talks on a range of
themes including advice on transitioning back to the physical classroom, online learning, socially
distanced teaching, understanding learners’ levels and providing emotional support.
Watch the recording on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLpmCHL8PnXq_DRcvJpaXIaPs4nFqtrgSl) and visit Your New English Classroom (/your-newclassroom/index.aspx) to discover more teaching resources to help you in your move back to class.
Related Articles
Research Notes 78: What does plurilingualism mean
for language assessment?
by Cambridge English (/blog/authors/cambridge-english/), 06/10/2020
Issue 78 of Cambridge English Research Notes discusses the role of plurilingualism in language
assessment.
Research (/blog/categories/research/) , Language (/blog/categories/language/) , Assessment
(/blog/categories/assessment/)
Read more (/blog/what-does-plurilingualism-mean-for-language-assessment/)
(/blog/what-does-plurilingualism-mean-for-language-assessment/)
Time management – practical ways to make your
teaching life easier
by Olha Madylus (/blog/authors/olha-madylus/), 05/10/2020
Teaching is not an easy job and all of us find ourselves managing huge responsibilities and countless
tasks, big and small, on a daily basis.
Teaching (/blog/categories/teaching/) , Schools (/blog/categories/schools/)
Read more (/blog/time-management/)
(/blog/time-management/)
Shaping the Future of Education
by Andrew Nye (/blog/authors/andrew-nye/), 30/09/2020
21st century education is facing the most extraordinary challenges. There’s globalisation, digitalisation
and increasing marginalisation. And now there’s COVID-19. How do we solve these problems?
Teaching (/blog/categories/teaching/) , Schools (/blog/categories/schools/) , Technology
(/blog/categories/technology/)
Read more (/blog/shaping-the-future-of-education/)
(/blog/shaping-the-future-of-education/)
How preparing for Cambridge English Qualifications
can help motivate learners through lockdown
by Cambridge English (/blog/authors/cambridge-english/), 11/09/2020
COVID-19 has meant huge disruption to learning. The best way to get learners back on track and rebuild
their motivation and sense of purpose is to give them goals to work towards, whether they are back in the
classroom or learning online.
Teaching (/blog/categories/teaching/) , Classroom (/blog/categories/Classroom/) , Schools
(/blog/categories/schools/) , Young learners (/blog/categories/young-learners/)
Read more (/blog/motivating-learners-through-lockdown/)
(/blog/motivating-learners-through-lockdown/)
We use cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving your consent for us to set cookies
(/footer/data-protection/cookie-policy/index.aspx) Dismiss
Thank you for printing this page. Find more at www.cambridgeenglish.org