One of the purposes of the Dutch research project 'Mixed ability groups in mathematics education 12-16' (S.V.O. 0647) is to support the mathematics department of the S.L.O., foundation for curriculum development, in the development of a 'mathematics for all' curriculum. Two booklets on graphs are partially evaluated by pre-and posttests, interviews and classroom observations in a comprehensive school. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of observations and tests show considerable progress in most of the children. This progress is most pronounced in children with a low score on their pretest. ~
R O O S
"We won't say a word", Cari whispers pointing at the little tape-recorder and peeping at me with a naughty smile on her face. She knows I desperately need the conversation of her small group to get insight into the way these children of very mixed ability reason and learn together. But I know she is only joking to get some of my attention so I send a big smile back to her.
Next to very blond Cari sits very dark Jane who is staring at some point on Rik's table, which is opposite hers. Jane and Cari are friends. And besides the fact that Jane's roots are in Surinam this friendship is another reason their teacher has put them together.
Rik has turned his whole big body to the teacher at the blackboard and with his hand waving in the air he is obviously drawing her attention. Of his small group he has got the best advice from his primary school. In Holland you leave the primary school at the age of twelve and are normally sent to different secondary schools of different levels. The primary school advises you to which school you can best go. But this secondary school is a comprehensive school. All can go there whatever advice they received. So besides the fact that Rik is a boy, the advice he received is the fourth reason why he is sitting in this small group.
Next to Rik and opposite to Cari sits Jos6 who owes his romantic name to a Spanish father. He is moving his small body restlessly on his chair searching out with his eyes friends in other groups.
At the head of the rectangle of four tables, a little bit outside the group sits Roos. Her primary school gave her the least possible advice. She doesn't like to talk about her primary school. She doesn't say much anyway. In fact if Cari had been serious and they all would have kept silent in order to ruin my research it wouldn't have mattered to Roos.