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 PatternsT – 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

o based on readiness needs

o based on interest

o based on learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)

o all students do the same task

Differentiate Producto student choice of products reflecting multiple

intelligences or learning styles

o teacher assigned based on multiple intelligences or learning styles

o teacher assigned based on readiness

o same product for all students

Differentiate Group Formation

o aloneo small group based on interesto small group based on same abilityo small group based on mixed abilityo partner based on interesto partner based on same abilityo partner based on mixed abilityo 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:

o Three things I learned about flexible grouping …

o Two questions I still have about flexible grouping …

o One strategy I am going to implement into my instruction …