Student Admission, Grouping, and Promotion Strategies
Student Admission and Enrollment
The admission and enrollment of students require attention to fundamental administrative and psychopedagogical aspects. The psychopedagogical approach considers the special conditions of each child. During registration, two scenarios may arise: students enrolling for the first time (no prior schooling) and students transferring from another school. For transferring students, their file containing personal and academic data is requested from the previous school, simplifying the process as required documentation is provided. Individual criteria used to classify students should be based on key aspects. Distinguishable criteria include:
- Chronological
- Psychological
- Pedagogical
Vertical Student Organization
From these coordinates, the vertical classification of students refers to organizing them by educational level within the school system to graduate their education and schooling. According to this ranking, students are sorted based on selected knowledge and experience corresponding to each grade level or course.
Horizontal Student Organization
Horizontal grouping addresses the challenge of class homogeneity and heterogeneity through the formation of homogeneous or heterogeneous groups. In short, the horizontal organization of students results from distributing students into classes and assigning teachers based on the center’s staffing plan.
Non-Graded Vertical Grouping
From the vertical perspective, an alternative approach is non-graded instruction. This approach is based on age; students born in the same chronological period, assumed to have similar maturity, are grouped together, expecting a similar pace of learning.
Organization by Cycles
Teaching organized by cycles is an intermediate approach between graded and non-graded education. On one hand, it addresses the need for graduation imposed by educational administration. On the other hand, it allows for a more flexible organization than strict grading, providing more appropriate responses to the heterogeneity found in student groups and addressing the inherent complexities and difficulties of grading.
Types of Student Groupings
Different group sizes suit various instructional purposes:
- Large groups (60-100 students): Appropriate for general presentations, oral lessons, or introducing broad themes.
- Medium groups (15-20 students): Formed from the large group, allowing students to clarify doubts with their teacher.
- Small groups (3-8 students): Assigned specific tasks or work requiring focused collaboration or implementation.
Student Promotion
Within the school context, promotion refers to the passage from one course or grade level to a higher one. Promotion is present in various social contexts. When considering promotion, teachers should take into account educational, personnel, and administrative perspectives, reflecting on what promotion means to each. It is important to understand the factors that might lead to a student not being promoted. These factors can be intrinsic, such as the student’s personal psychological, biological, or chronological circumstances or disorders.