In addition to student testing, classroom observations, teacher interviews, teacher activity logs, teacher questionnaires, and teacher evaluations are utilized. Benefits to Students and Teachers Along with consistent test data, UWM researchers have found unfailing reports of benefits to both students and teachers. Molnar says perhaps the most outstanding benefit is individualization. Amid recent criticism of the SAGE program from the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, UWM evaluators in December released positive findings about the program, while acknowledging room for improvement. Many of WPRI's findings were disputed by the UWM evaluators and other supporters, including the state teachers' union.
Teachers vary their instruction for individuals, but the curriculum is the same for all students.
The effect of individualization is increased articulation and critique. In the reduced-size class, students more frequently reveal their present understandings and teachers more frequently correct misunderstandings. A product of individualization in reduced-size classes in addition to academic development is student independence, thinking, and responsibility. These findings are borne out by teachers and parents. Back at Linda Kaponya's class at Zablocki School, Cynthia Sosa is the mother who's helping as an aide, further reducing the student-adult ratio.