Flexible Student Grouping

A Pathway to Differentiation:

Flexible Student Grouping

Sean M. HildebrandtSecondary High Potential Specialist

Phone: (952) 496-5768 Email: shildebr@shakopee.k12.mn.us

Differentiation defined:Differentiation is a teacher’s response to learner needs shaped by mindset and guided by general principles. Teachers can differentiate through content, process, or product according to students’ readiness, interest, or learning profile.

- Carol Ann Tomlinson (1999)

Flexible Student Grouping:Sound Differentiated

Instruction is predicated on flexible student grouping.

Knowing your students well and arranging them into strategically-designed, fluid groups optimizes learning and is generally considered best practice.

Flexible Student Grouping:Groups of students are

arranged based on readiness, learning profiles, or interests.

These groups change from activity to activity.

Flexible Grouping employs combinations ofwhole group, small group &

independent work.

Group Composition“Homogeneous” Groups: Students are

arranged based on a measured criterion Heterogeneous Groups: Students are a

“mixed bunch”

Homogeneous GroupsThese groups are formed based on a

shared criterion – most often ability or classroom performance

These criterion-based groupings allow teachers to tier or level instruction.

Allows for clustering of Gifted and Talented students

Heterogeneous GroupsStudents benefit from these mixed ability groupings when the following are ALL true:

Material is new for everyoneLearning is genuine – no “peer

tutoring”Activity relies on multiple

perspectives

These groups could be student-selected or random

Group FormationTeacher selected groups:

Students are strategically arranged based on student criteria and the instruction

Randomly selected GroupsUsed when mixed-ability, learning

styles, and interests are desired but not requiredStudent selected Groups:

Used when mixed-ability, heterogeneous groups don’t truly require multiple perspectives

Sean M. Hildebrandt, M.S.Secondary HP Specialist

The schematic to the left provides quick

guidance when forming groups?

Managing Groups: LogisticsAs you examine the learning targets

of the activity, be mindful of:Number of pupils in classNumber of groupsStudents per group Roles within the groupTeacher rolePhysical limitations (Facilities)Overall safety

Managing Groups: TipsForm groups of 4-5 students if the activity

is collaborative in nature:Create tasks students can do independentlyProvide checklist of procedures & RubricsEstablish behavior guidelines and

expectations for lesson beforehandBe flexible with time spent per group (≠)Consider a whole-group activity to bring

everyone together at end or beginningThomas L. Good & Jere E. Brophy, Looking in Classrooms (Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon, 2000)