Grouping and Seating

Teachers group students according to their placement test scores. The lowest-performing group is the smallest, with five or six students. The highest-performing group is the largest, eight or ten students.  

Students sit in assigned seats in a semicircle. The teacher sees all students in the group as well as other students in the class and those doing independent work.  

The lowest-performing students sit directly in front of the teacher. Middle performers are around the lower performers. Higher-performing students sit on the ends of the semicircle or in the second row.