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A Pathway to Differentiation: Flexible Student Grouping Sean M. Hildebrandt Secondary High Potential Specialist Phone: (952) 496-5768 Email: [email protected]

Flexible Student Grouping

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This slideshow is intended for teachers or instructional staff looking to optimize instruction through the use of appropriate student groupings.

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Page 1: Flexible Student Grouping

A Pathway to Differentiation:

Flexible Student Grouping

Sean M. HildebrandtSecondary High Potential Specialist

Phone: (952) 496-5768 Email: [email protected]

Page 2: Flexible Student Grouping

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)

Page 3: Flexible Student Grouping

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.

Page 4: Flexible Student Grouping

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.

Page 5: Flexible Student Grouping

Group Composition“Homogeneous” Groups: Students are

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

“mixed bunch”

Page 6: Flexible Student Grouping

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

Page 7: Flexible Student Grouping

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

Page 8: Flexible Student Grouping

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

Page 9: Flexible Student Grouping

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

The schematic to the left provides quick

guidance when forming groups?

Page 10: Flexible Student Grouping
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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

Page 12: Flexible Student Grouping

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)