Chapter 5 – Flexible Grouping in Success for All Learners

1. Chapter 5 – Flexible Grouping in Success for All Learners Presenter: Darren Ellison

2. Overview • Frequent movement from wholeclass/individual/base or random groups • Careful planning and management • Teaching social and collaborative skills

3. Individual, Small-Group, and Whole-Class Work Working with the whole class: The whole class is the setting for much _________________, and ____ ___ _______ _________ that contributes to a student’s sense of identity. Working alone: Individual work allows students to _________ ___ _______on their learning, and to ____ ________ ______. Teachers need to _______ _____ _____ for students to work individually at every stage of the learning and assessment process. Working in groups: Group work allows for greater student _________, teaches valuable _________ and _____ ______, and acknowledges “___ _______ __________ __ __________”

4. Tasks best done in groups: • Tasks in which student thinking will be enriched by the contribution of _______ experiences and points of view • Problem-solving tasks that require ______ _____ _______ • Broad research tasks in which the group’s product can be a _________ of the information contributed by the members.

5. Flexible Grouping • Base Groups • Heterogeneous (change every 4-6 weeks) • Small-group collaboration for group activities like: • Listen-Think-Pair-Share, Co-op Co-op, Numbered-Heads-Together • Random Groups • Out of base groups into random for activities like: • Lab partners • Peer-editing • Think-pair-share

6. Group Configurations and Instructional Goals

7. Provides the learning community that fosters a sense of identity • Facilitates direct instruction • Provides a real audience • Offers a stimulating setting for discussion

8. For discussion of classroom policies, development of assessment rubrics, and reflection on group processes • For mini-lessons, films, and guest speakers • For introducing and modelling learning strategies • For student performances and presentations • For analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application of ideas

9. Class meetings • Mini-discussion with whole-class audience • SWIM/LAPS • Anticipation Guides • Note-Making Frames • Graphic organizers • Think sheets • Response sheets • Opinion lineups • Think-Pair-Share • KWL Plus

10. Provides students with time to revise their concepts in the face of new information • Enables students to set and pursue individual goals • Allows students to reflect on their learning and develop metacognition • Allows students to express their learning in individual forms • Provides time for conferences with the teacher

11. To access prior knowledge • To integrate new information • For self-assessment • For individual reading, research, and writing

12. KWL Plus • Focused Free-Write • Learning logs • Process Notes • Preparation for presentations and performances • Portfolios • Individual learning projects

13. Allows for active learning • Increases student talk and decreases teacher talk • Allows students to express tentative understanding and talk their way through to consolidation of their ideas • Stretches students’ thinking • Teaches and reinforces social and collaborative skills • Fosters tolerance and mutual support in a diverse community

14. To extend prior knowledge • For peer teaching • For building data bases • For collaborative problem solving • For extension activities

15. KWL Plus Listen-Think-Pair-Share Listen-Draw-Pair-Share LINK Word Splash Sort and Predict Concept Frame Collaborative Reading Word Cycle Numbered-Heads-Together Jigsaw Co-op Co-op Group learning projects Gallery Walk

16. Group Work: “Curriculum in Disguise” Curriculum

17. Cooperative Learning • Enhances short and long-term memory and critical thinking • Provides opportunities to discuss ideas, deepening understanding of new concepts and prior knowledge • Enhances intercultural relations Examples: • Co-op Co-op • Jigsaw

18. Suggested Reading • Classroom Connections • Together We Learn: Small Group Learning • Cooperative Learning • The Cooperative Classroom: Social and Academic Activities

19. Evaluation