I was kidding about ability grouping. That is what I grew up with and was usually in a group with 1-4 other people. We enjoyed working together and had great conversations. It seems no different than differentiation.
We saw very little of the teacher because in 7th grade, she was helping some students learn to add (all year).
My daughter has never had differentiation even though she is supposed to get it. We put her in a college class in 8th grade because she placed into it and did not learn anything in 7th grade. We live in a highly impoverished area.
