Small Group Instruction What it is and is not…

Learning Target Learning Target  To develop a clear understanding of what small group instruction is and is not   To identify why we need to use small group instruction

Why Small Groups?   Fill in gaps in students’ learning   To scaffold instruction so they can practice with support and be successful   After you have formatively assessed them- to intervene and to challenge   To layer lessons for optimal growth- 2’s to 3’s….3’s to 4’s

Anticipation Guide Before Small Group Instruction Mark in the ‘Before’ column (left hand side) if you agree or disagree with the statement on the anticipation guide.

What is Small Group Instruction?  Teaching students according to their individual needs  Data-based instruction  Individualized instruction  Scaffolding

What are the benefits of Small Group Instruction?  Teachers are better able to observe, monitor, and attend to the needs of learners  Students are more comfortable taking learning risks in a small group  Students are afforded more opportunities to interact with one another  Instruction can be targeted and focused to meet the needs of the group members (Strickland, Ganske, & Monroe, 2002) (Strickland, Ganske, & Monroe, 2002)

Small Group Instruction Is and Is not Examples  Teaching targeted small groups  Flexible grouping patterns  Using assessment data to plan instruction  Matching problem level to student ability  Independent projects tailored to student ability Not Examples  Whole class instruction  Small groups that never change (tracking)  All students doing the same activity  Desks arranged in groups, but same independent seat work assignments to entire class

Chunking the Text and Text Coding During Symbol and When to use it √ When you agree with what you are reading × When you disagree with what you are reading ? When something you are reading raises a question for you ๑ When you are really confused and the reading does not make sense. * When you think that something in the reading is very important even if you aren’t sure why yet. ! When something in the reading is new and interesting to you.

Quote: Read the following quote and individually reflect for 1 minute. “Regardless of the subject matter, students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than when the same content is presented in other instructional formats.” “Regardless of the subject matter, students working in small groups tend to learn more of what is taught and retain it longer than when the same content is presented in other instructional formats.” (Barbara Gross Davis, Tools for Teaching 2009)

Anticipation Guide After Small Group Instruction Revisit the statements in the anticipation guide. Do you still agree or disagree with the statements? Mark your opinion now in the right-hand column. Correct the statements with which you do not agree. Turn and Talk to your elbow partner about the corrections to see if you agree.