What is small group instruction?
Stations, centers, intervention, reteach/enrichment, guided math. What do they all have in common? Small group instruction and even better yet, data-driven small group instruction.
So, what do I mean by “small group instruction”?
I look at small group instruction as everything teachers do when they use data to create small groups. This includes intervention, reteach, enrichment, etc.
Small group instruction is one of the most powerful strategies teachers have to individualize, personalize and differentiate instruction to fit the needs of all students.
Small Group Instruction Isn’t Just…
Small group instruction is not just intervention. It’s also working with near or on grade level students and pushing them to a higher level. It’s also providing enrichment activities for your students who have mastered the content and are ready to work at a more advanced level or even move on to the next concept.
Wow, that’s a lot! But, it’s totally doable, even with your already jam packed teacher schedules.
But, how do we add one more thing to our already overly busy, jam packed teacher schedules? How do we organize and design our groups? How do we track data and encourage our students to track their data, set goals, buy-in and participate?
Once you’ve committed to consistently using small group instruction, you’ll need to be organized. And, yes, we teachers love our forms and trackers and charts!
Download for FREE my Small Group Data Tracking, Charting and Organizational Tool Kit. You’ll receive multiple forms, charts and trackers to help you get started and stay organized. Each page is easy to begin using immediately and completely editable! . Make them yours to fit your unique classroom!
What Will Small Group Instruction Do For Me?
I’ve been using small group instruction for over a decade, both in a core classroom environment and Tier2/3 middle school math intervention class. It’s a process! Every year, I make changes, improvements to my structures, forms, charts and activities. Like I said, it’s a process. But a process that is so worth it!
I’ve seen behaviors improve, engagement increase, confidence rise and scores go up!
With organization and commitment, I know you can quickly begin implementing small group instruction, stations, centers, rotations, intervention (whatever you decide to call them, structure you decide to implement) into your classroom this school year!
Oh, did I mention chunking? Yup, we can do that with small groups too. All of this combined means more growth and success for your students!
And yes, you do have time. In the long run, small groups can save you instructional time and save you time responding to negative or off-task behaviors. Why? Because students will look forward to small group time! They enjoy working together and showing their independence. Not to mention the variety of activities you can include within your small group instruction time.
And yes, small groups work for middle school! I’ve been using this strategy for over a decade with grades 6-8.
Getting Started with Small Groups
Getting started is the hardest step! Make the commitment right now, to you and to your students, to include some type of small group instruction into your regular classroom routines. Our classes are so diverse, one lesson doesn’t fit all. Small groups are a way to reach all learners. Don’t skip this valuable component of a successful, differentiated classroom.
Whether you are ready to dip your toe in the small group water or you’ve been using small groups for a while, the following tips have something for everyone.
Tip #1 COMMIT to including small group instruction into your class
Say it 10 times, write it 10 times, do whatever you need to make the decision and commit to adding small group instruction to your class.
Tip #2 It Might Get a Little Messy- But It’s So Worth It!
Understand, if you’re just starting this process, you’re new to including small group instruction in your classroom routines, it might get a little messy!
Have you seen those videos with the perfect students in the perfect classroom completing the perfect activity? I don’t know about you, but most of my days don’t look like that and I’ve been using small group instruction for over a decade. And ya know what, that’s totally ok! Every classroom has its own personality. Work with it, build on it, be you!
Don’t strive for perfection. Successful small group instruction doesn’t happen overnight! Be kind to yourself and understand this is a process. Reflect, revise and celebrate!
Tip #3 Timing and Structure
- How many groups do you want? If you’re just starting, maybe start with one teacher led group. While students meet with you, the rest of the class is working in pairs or independently. Maybe you want to jump in and have multiple groups, rotating and completing different activities at each station in addition to your teacher-led group. Look at how many students you have and how many groups you want.
- How long will each group last? Research shows the importance of chunking information and chunking the amount of time students spend working. Stations are a great way to build small chunks of work time into your class with a quick break to rotate to the next station. Students do not have to get through all rotations in one class period.
- How much time do you have to put into this process? Let’s get real! Teaching is time consuming! What is your time commitment to this process? If you are short on time, start with one small group that meets with you. Have a guided practice activity to do with your group while the rest of the class works on an assignment or activity. Have more time? Jump in, go all out and have multiple groups and activities going. You decide.
- Class personality matters. Every class is different. And I’ve had some very behaviorally challenging classes. Sometimes a structured small group schedule improves engagement and reduces behaviors. Not always, but it can happen. Be open to structure your class time to best work with the personality of your class.
Tip #4 Data, this is a big one!
- What data will you use, where will you gather the data from.
- How will you organize your data?
- How will you use the data to make your small groups more successful?
- Download for FREE a collection of forms and trackers I use by clicking HERE. All forms are totally editable.
Tip #5 How will you build your groups?
- There’s lots of research saying heterogeneous, homogeneous, mixed abilities, highs with lows, middles with highs and on and on! I’ve tried pretty much all of them and I still haven’t found the perfect answer. Use what works for you and your students.
- And, another reality check- some students just don’t work well together! Start with the data and then make decisions that will best foster a positive learning environment.
Tip #6 Procedures and Expectations
- THIS IS HUGE! I’m going to say it again- THIS IS HUGE!
- Brainstorm a list. Try to think of everything and be prepared that you won’t and you’ll have to revisit and revise your procedures and expectations throughout the process.
- Get the students involved! A great and fast activity is to have students write three positive behaviors they think should be required during group time. Make a list and include some of them into your procedures. Give things time and don’t jump in and change everything all the time. Display, explain, model. Hmm, and do it all again and again.
Tip #7 Take some time to reflect
As you adventure through the process of implementing stations, rotations, and small group instruction, create a way to quickly reflect on your process. Write it, type it, jot it down, record it, whatever works for you.
Remember to think about what worked AND the things that could use improvement, revision, modification.
Some areas to focus on when reflecting on this process.
- Your procedures
- Your structures
- Time
- Student participation/engagement
- Which students thrived and which struggled
- Be specific! What worked and WHY and what didn’t work and WHY.
- Which activities engaged students. Which activities didn’t- why?
- Data: What, how did you collect it and how did you use it?
Small Group Instruction WORKS!
By implementing some of the tips Iisted above you will have a great start to incorporating individualized and differentiated activities into your class.
I’ve watched many students thrive and grow with consistent use of small group instruction.
One size, one structure doesn’t fit all. Jump in, try things out and give yourself time to find what works for you and your classes. Engagement will increase and growth will increase!
Check out the article, Strategies for Improving Small Group Instruction by Andrew Miller on Edutopia. There’s some really good tips for small group instruction. I really connected with how the author emphasized the importance of using small groups to “listen and learn”. It’s such a great opportunity to really zero in on what your students need and to build those relationships!
And, don’t forget to save yourself some time and leave some stress behind by downloading my FREE and totally editable Small Group Data Tracking, Charting and Organizational Tool Kit.
So, I ask again- Do You Small Group? If not, there’s no time like the present to jump in and commit to including small group instruction into your classroom!
