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Assalamualaikum. I came across this website n thank God, it's just like being saved by Superhero! I am a new teacher, recently posted to primary school. I have difficulties in delivering my English lessons n yes, I need help!! My pupils are consisted of Yr 2 (38 pupils), Yr 4 (35) n Yr 6 (20). Their levels of achievement are mostly average and low. Since my classes r mix abilities, I have problem in conducting the teaching n learning sessions. Mostly my pupils (Yr 2 n Yr 4) are illiterate. I read that by preparing different levels of worksheet will help me to overcome such problem. Even my lecturer used to advise the same thing but due to the numbers of my pupils, I could not carry out the T&L effectively. I want to help those weak pupils and focus on them but the average and good pupils often become the distraction as they also seek the same, equal attention from me. Please advise.

:) Congratulations on your posting! From what I read, you must be having a tough time teaching your pupils. When it comes to mix abilities pupils, we must prepare ourselves mentally and physically because the pupils have different level of competence. From my experience, what you can do is don't ignore the average pupils just to focus on the weaker ones. Here's a few suggestions which might help;

1. Teach the same topic, for instance - Greetings/Social Expressions. Use more total physical response such as actions to develop their listening and speaking skills. When it comes to writing activities, explain to them what they must do. Let the average pupils explore their own writing but with guidance. Call out the weak students to a corner and guide them thoroughly throughout their writing activity. Of course you would get distraction from the latter group, but tell the pupils they can work out the worksheets given with their peers in which theirs are more challenging.

2. It is troublesome when you have to prepare different worksheets to different level of pupils. What I do in class is, I always make use of activity books. Of course, these books may not be suitable for the weaker ones, but at least they would know how to write simple words, the very least. If you find that using activity books are useless for the weaker ones, use the exercise books.

3. Use more of songs and games that pupils would enjoy. After all English is a language, and it can be interpreted not just in communication but through other means.

4. Use a lot of drilling - meaning words, sentences or phrases are repeated many times. For reading activities, use sentences which are repeated, so that they would comprehend what they have read.

5. Speak to them in English and use translation when it is necessary. Use actions when speaking.

Don't worry if your pupils doesn't show improvement in shortcoming because a teacher would take years in applying techniques, methods or strategies in T&L and sees the result later in years to come. Good luck!

i just wanna add something.i agree with hartiniazhar.it is not practical for you to prepare different level worksheets.try your english activity book and buy some extra activity books too.the trick is,don't use diferent materials,just give more guidance.call them one by one.it is more personal and more meanigful.sure it takes time.but rome wasn't build in a day.just remember,simplicity is more.
don't give up.i had the same experience during my practicum,at first i was the lousiest in class control,but with advice from my mentor and my lecturer,i managed to control the class perfectly in the end.better than my so called excellent partner who in the end lost class control towards the end of the practicum.just enjoy yourself teching ok?as i do right now.nothing is more enjoyable for me now...