Upload
brianna-jenkins
View
213
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Differentiated Instruction and
Flexible Grouping
Kimberly A. Mearman
Welcome
• Look at the front of your packet and find a shape
• Find your group by looking for others with the same shape
• Find two things everyone in your group has in common
• Write the two common things on the chart
What Is Flexible Grouping?
• Silently for 2 minutes put down your ideas about what flexible grouping is and is not on the concept diagram
• For 10 minutes discuss your ideas with your group. Add any new information to the concept diagram
• With your group develop a definition of flexible grouping
• Be prepared to share with the whole group
What Is Flexible Grouping?
• Groups that are diverse in make-up and account for individual differences
• Groups that are constantly changing to fit a specific purpose
• Flexible grouping is part of a differentiated classroom
Who Is Involved With Flexible Grouping?
• Everyone!
• Flexible grouping is designed to accommodate all learning styles, all learning levels, and all learning needs
Where Do You Do Flexible Grouping?
• In classrooms• In workshops• In meetings• Anywhere people come together
to work on a task or learn new information
When Do You Do Flexible Grouping?
• Throughout the day
• Even whole class is in essence a form of flexible grouping
Why Flexible Grouping?
• It allows for various levels of ability and diversity without creating distinctions
• It promotes interaction and empowers students
• It promotes student-driven instruction • It promotes the use of multiple
intelligences
How Do You Organize Flexible
Grouping? • Understand the various types of groups and their purposes
Common Forms of Grouping
• Cooperative grouping– 3-4 students– Student-directed – Mixed ability
• Be strategic with group make-up• Avoid putting very high with very low• Set some time to teach students to work
cooperatively, don’t assume students know how to work together
Common forms of grouping
• Partner– 2-3 students– student-directed or teacher-directed– mixed or leveled
• Be strategic with partner make-up• Avoid putting very high with very low
Common forms of grouping
• Ability or Tiered– no set amount of students– usually teacher-directed– leveled grouping by a specific skill
• Avoid always using the same focus to make up group
• Avoid labeling groups with labels that can indicate order (e.g. 1,2,3 or a,b,c)
• Use some knowledge of multiple intelligences to help create new ideas for leveling
Common forms of grouping
• Compacting– no set amount of students– leveled grouping by a specific skill – usually teacher-directed– criteria for compacting
• much information is already known on the topic
• determine what is unknown and cover just that material
• use with enrichment or accelerated study
Common forms of grouping
• Mixed/Random– no set amount of students– student-directed or teacher-directed– arbitrary mix
• use fun techniques to mix up students, such as, find some who…
Common forms of grouping
• Interest– no set amount of students– student-directed or teacher-directed– students self-select by topic or project
• to avoid students from selecting by basis of membership, have students fill out a slip privately
• sometimes it’s okay to be in a group with your friend
Common forms of grouping
• Learning Styles– no set amount of students– usually teacher-directed– groups are determined by learning
profiles • modality preferences• work habits• multiple intelligences• preferences for learning environment
Common forms of grouping
• Jigsaw-topic related– no set amount of students– student-direct or teacher-directed– can be done as cooperative learning – groups are determined by topic
• can be used to cover much material• always try to keep a common link (objective,
product, materials, format)• always bring back together (liken it to
building a puzzle with all the pieces)
How do you organize flexible grouping?
• Understand the various types of groups and their purposes
•Develop the lesson
Designing a lesson• Content/objective
– know what you are going to teach
• Readiness/Assessment– know where your students are currently
functioning
• Process– know how you are going to teach it
• Product– know how the students will express their new
learning
Designing a lessonBegin your planning with your objectives
• Know what you want ALLALL students to learn• Know what you want MOSTMOST students to learn• Know what you want SOMESOME students to learn
– some students need beyond the curriculum– some students need basic skills– some students have IEPs
Designing a lessonWhen designing a lesson for flexible grouping
ask these questions
• What is my purpose for the lesson?• Is this student-directed or teacher-directed?• Has the membership changed from the last
grouping?• What is the common thread with all the
groups?• What is the distinction with each group?
Designing a lesson
• Keep the same objective for each group– change materials and/or– change process and/or– change product
Ideas for managing multiple groups
Designing a lesson
• Keep the same materials for each group– change objective and/or– change process and/or– change product
Ideas for managing multiple groups
Designing a lesson
• Keep the same process for each group– change objective and/or– change materials and/or– change product
Ideas for managing multiple groups
Designing a lesson
• Keep the same product for each group– change objective and/or– change materials and/or– change process
Ideas for managing multiple groups
How do you organize flexible grouping?
• Understand the various types of groups and their purposes
• Develop the lesson
•Plan your classroom management
Classroom ManagementClassroom management is the key to success
• Preplan how your grouping will look• Consider a method for students to seek help
when you are working with a group so you are not interrupted
• Establish classroom rules that work with grouping• Avoid reward systems that promote competition
Classroom ManagementTeach students how to work in groups
• How to compromise– develop new idea– merge ideas– fair way of determining who’s idea to use
• How to have consensus– Everyone can live with it
• How to positively support each other
Classroom ManagementTeam Building
• Have fun team building activities– use them whenever establishing a longer term grouping, especially if student-directed
• make a group flag• find something in common• group name and logo
• Take time to discuss problems– use a no name rule– problem solve withwith students, not for students
Classroom ManagementCommunication
• Listening– look at speaker– ask questions
• Brainstorming• Disagree with ideas, not people• Use positive comments
– cheerleader or encourager
Classroom Management
• Cheerleader or Encourager– cheers group
• Facilitator or Organizer– helps group get organized
• Recorder• Gatekeeper
– keeps group focused• Time keeper
Use Roles for Students
Classroom Management
• Ideal for co-teaching experiences• Paraprofessionals can help facilitate or help
with classroom management• Parent volunteers can help, especially with
hands-on activities• Older students can also help
Ideas for managing multiple groups
Make Flexible Grouping Your Teaching Style
And don’t forget to have fun with it