Keeping students together or mixing them up? That idea that has been presented is one i tend to think about a lot, when thinking about how i would run my own class. As soon as i hear that topic a flashback of my own grade school days run threw my head. First thing that usually comes to mind, is gym class. Every class our teacher would split us up, boys on one team and girls on another. Naturally being a bunch of 5th graders that we were us girls thought we had no chance. About that time i am sure most of the boys knew they had the advantage. However though on the other hand, when there would be boys and girls teams in english the girls would usually take the lead. So with my own experience with that being said, now brings me to my feeling on it today. In my own classroom i would like to run things a little differently. I believe when your younger you are not really aware of your differences you have with other people yet. Certainly your own age, and of course boys and girls. So why divide your class into two groups, and risk in my opinion, of complicating things. I think spending time as a group and working as one helps you realize each others strengths and weaknesses a lot easier. Which brings me to if you have a student who has a learning disability. There can be many pros and cons in that situation, but i feel the student should not have to be put into a different class just reading a little slow. I think extra help should always come first , I would do everything I could as a teacher before sending a student to a special class. In fear of making that student feel alienated, or any different from his peers.