Inspiring example

With 92% students  representing 28 different nationalities,  the Joaquim Ruyra Elementary School in a Barcelonian suburb has been mentioned by the press as a 'miracle school' as it outperformed elite schools in the Catalan standardised tests.

Goals

All classes in the school feature group work 40% to 60% of the time. The groups mix students of different abilities, genders and nationalities (including Pakistan, Morocco, Georgia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, the Philippines, China, Bangladesh, Senegal, and the USA).
The small groups are designed to ensure that no one is left out, and students are encouraged to participate actively.
Each group is facilitated by an adult (e.g. a classroom assistants, a parent).
Psychologists and special education teachers may also work in the classrooms, and they support volunteer parents, teachers and the students.

The extra support and student interaction are considered as essential for supporting and reinforcing children’s learning.

Reflective questions after watching the video

• What kind of possibilities do you have to include more people in classrooms?
• How is groupwork organized in your school and what could be the benefits to move toward learning groups?
• Would you like to try something like the Dialogic Literary Gatherings?

Links and materials

School web page: https://agora.xtec.cat/ceip-jruyra-l-h/