Module 3: Incorporating Flexible Groupings into Instruction

Module 3: Incorporating Flexible Groupings into Instruction Good Spirit School Division

Activating Prior Knowledge Activity • Complete “Grouping Practices Survey” according to current practices.

What is flexible grouping? • A differentiated instruction strategy • A way to group students in a variety of ways • Students working collaboratively on a task • A strategy to address needs of 21st Century learners—collaboration and communication

Why do we use flexible grouping? • Allows for both collaboration with classmates and independent work. • Allows students to work with a wide variety of peers. • Allows for exploration by students. • Keeps students from being pegged as ‘advanced’ or ‘struggling.’ • Gives students and teachers a voice in working arrangements. • Groups students on likenesses rather than differences.

Purposes of Flexible Grouping • Flexible grouping can be used to: - review material - re-teach - practice a skill or concept - enrichment

Grouping Patterns T – Total Group A – Alone P – Partners S – Small Groups

Basis for Flexible Groups • Readiness • Interest • Learning Style

Formation of Groups • Teacher Choice • Student Choice • Random

Duration of Flexible Groups • Single lesson or activity • Set of skills • Unit of study • A few minutes • An hour • A day • A week • A month

How do we use flexible grouping? • Begin with assessment or instruction. • Put students into same ability or mixed ability groups based on purpose of task.

Prepare Students for Flexible Groups By Discussing: • why you are using a specific grouping practice. • the expectations for behaviour within groups. • what students need to do if they have questions during group work. • what the students are to do if they finish the task early.

Tips For Naming Groups • Choose names that do not reflect ability levels. • Continually change the names of groups. • Use different names for various types of groups. • Let students come up with group names. • Use names only once. • Let name reflect purpose of group (Punctuation Group, Double Digit Club, Handwriting Clinic, etc.)

Flexible Grouping Strategies

Differentiation Using Flexible Groupings

Differentiate Task Design and Assignment • based on readiness needs • based on interest • based on learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) • all students do the same task

Differentiate Product • student choice of products reflecting multiple intelligences or learning styles • teacher assigned based on multiple intelligences or learning styles • teacher assigned based on readiness • same product for all students

Differentiate Group Formation • alone • small group based on interest • small group based on same ability • small group based on mixed ability • partner based on interest • partner based on same ability • partner based on mixed ability • student choice of alone, with a partner, in a small group

Module Assignment • Consider the different flexible grouping strategies presented in this module. • Choose a flexible grouping strategy to use in your classroom. • Implement a strategy you have not used before or use a familiar strategy for a different purpose than you have traditionally used in the past. • A planning guide and reflection template are included to support you with this module.

Exit Card • On a scrap piece of paper, complete the following: • Three things I learned about flexible grouping … • Two questions I still have about flexible grouping … • One strategy I am going to implement into my instruction …

Module 3: Incorporating Flexible Groupings into Instruction