ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on one facet of flexible grouping—the effective and efficient use of small, mixed-ability groups to improve educational outcomes for students with and without disabilities. It describes the rationale and purposes served by small instructional groups, particularly mixed-ability groups using cooperative learning structures. The chapter outlines major steps for teachers to implement mixed-ability groups with fidelity. It provides a sample lesson that serves as a model for the use of mixed-ability grouping and that integrates cooperative learning structures and instructional technology. The chapter highlights the use of Kagan's cooperative learning structures. It describes small, mixed-ability groups with embedded cooperative learning structures to represent one type of instructional arrangement within the flexible grouping high leverage practice (HLP). Cooperative learning is probably the most well-known and extensively researched instructional approach that uses small, mixed-ability groups. The teacher praises students for properly applying less than and greater than symbols to inequalities.
