When we want every student to show progress we have to give them the best learning experience. The learning method has to adjust according to the students. This is possible ONLY at Walnut School with our differential learning program which students have from Std 6 onwards.
- All sections of a standard mix up and form groups according to their ability for that subject and study in those groups.
- The same concepts are taught in all classrooms but the approach is different.
- With these newly formed groups, the range between the slowest and fastest in each group is very less and the lesson plan is more suited to their needs.
- So, the faster ones can be challenged, the normal students continue to benefit and the slower ones get the right support in the class without feeling intimidated and can catch up!
- The students enjoy all their classes and really like their teachers. They understand the explanations and recognize the support.
- In fact, they develop a good relationship with the teacher and have positive thoughts even about the subjects they were not doing that well in.
- Parents like that their children have a comfort level in all subjects.
- Students do not feel intimidated in the classroom at all even if they are not doing that well in a subject.
- Parents see constant improvements in scores in their children as well as attitude towards the subject.
- Teachers have to teach according to the pace of the average student.
- With groups like this, the average is closer to what each student needs.
- Students are more engaged in the classroom and we get much better results.
Watch this short video to understand how differential learning works
See how this works in-depth
How do teachers teach in other schools?
- According to the average student’s pace
- The ones who are slow get left behind to a great extent
- The fast kids are not challenged adequately
- When their intelligence is not properly nurtured, students start mentally disconnecting
When there is a large range between the fastest and the slowest, both these groups are far away from the mean and do not benefit much.
What do we do specially at Walnut Schools?
With the groups that we form as per the abilities, the range between the slowest and fastest in each group is very less and the lesson plan can be more suited to their needs. So, the faster ones can be challenged, the average students continue to benefit and the slower ones get the right support in the class without feeling intimidated and can catch up!
Is this demotivating for the students in the extra support group?
Not at all. These kids actually open up much more, start competing with each other and they all show amazing improvement. They do not feel intimidated or embarrassed to ask questions in the class and start engaging more and more.
These groups are not at all fixed or rigid. When the teachers see that a particular student would benefit more from being in a different group, they promptly execute the change. This gives an amazing personalized learning experience to the students. It also encourages them to perform better.
How are groups made?
The groups change from subject to subject. A child who is average in Marathi may be excellent in Math and may require additional support in English. With our differential learning program – we can provide that personalized learning here, no problem!