Chapter 5 – Flexible Grouping in Success for All Learners

Presenter: Darren Ellison

Overview

• Frequent movement from wholeclass/individual/base or random groups

• Careful planning and management

• Teaching social and collaborative skills

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 “___ _______ __________ __ __________”

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.

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

Group Configurations and Instructional GoalsWhole Class Work Instructional Goals/Functions Learning Strategies

Individual Work

Group Work

• Provides the learning community that fosters a sense of identity

• Facilitates direct instruction

• Provides a real audience

• Offers a stimulating setting for discussion

• 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

• 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

• 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

• To access prior knowledge

• To integrate new information

• For self-assessment

• For individual reading, research, and writing

• KWL Plus

• Focused Free-Write

• Learning logs

• Process Notes

• Preparation for presentations and performances

• Portfolios

• Individual learning projects

• 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

• To extend prior knowledge

• For peer teaching

• For building data bases

• For collaborative problem solving

• For extension activities

Collaborative Reading

Word Cycle

Numbered-Heads-Together

Jigsaw

Co-op Co-op

Group learning projects

Gallery Walk

KWL Plus

Listen-Think-Pair-Share

Listen-Draw-Pair-Share

LINK

Word Splash

Sort and Predict

Concept Frame

Group Work: “Curriculum in Disguise”

Curriculum

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

Suggested Reading

• Classroom Connections

• Together We Learn: Small Group Learning

• Cooperative Learning

• The Cooperative Classroom: Social and Academic Activities

Evaluation