Noelle: 0:38
Good morning, teachers! You’re listening to episode # 9.

Last week on the podcast, we were able to learn about the Grid Method from Chad at Teach Better. I really enjoyed the thought process that is behind the Grid Method and how it is versatile enough to work with any existing resources. 

One of the questions we get asked the most is what to do if students are struggling…or how to better reach students...or what to do what students who are excelling...one the most powerful things that I have personally used and recommend to teachers is a small group. 

For those of you who may be listening and regularly break students into small groups, then hopefully you will take away a few ideas and your thought process will be affirmed. For those of you who haven’t yet tried a small group, I hope this episode will help you to think through the process of small groups and that you will consider giving one a try.

Let’s do it!

What is holding us back from trying small groups?

Before we jump into why we should be utilizing small groups, I want to discuss many of the things that we hear or tell ourselves that hold us back from trying and regularly using small groups.

First, it can be overwhelming to try something new. Literally starting anything new can be challenging and requires a lot of upfront energy...in the classroom, at home, or just in general. And if this year is really doing you in, then keep listening but don’t feel any pressure to do this “new thing” tomorrow. You are adding tools to your teacher toolbox and when the time is right you will be equipped to implement them. 

The largest objection to pulling a small group of students and working with them is the question of ...“what is everyone else doing” and … how do you manage them? So yes, if you are focused on your small group of students ...then naturally you want the other students in the class to be diligently working on their assignments. We want to avoid much of the classroom management that will be disruptive to your small group and other students. Can you resonate with that? 

Another reason we may be less inclined to pull a small group... is that we don’t feel prepared with the organization required upfront. I think there is some validity to this statement... but I also want to challenge the idea that the small group has to be doing something different or revolutionary. We’ll discuss the benefits of a small group and let me give you a hint... none of them require a new assignment or a lot of upfront planning from you. This also applies to a potential space issue...you don’t need a dedicated table...though it is nice...you can easily group desks together...so don’t let these things be an obstacle.

The last one that I think can be really overwhelming, is the idea that everyone needs to be pulled into a small group for an equal amount of time and that there just aren’t enough minutes in the class period. And I agree...you will be hard-pressed to find a teacher who says they have enough time...but I do want to counter this idea that small groups are a logistical nightmare for middle school teachers who have 150+ students. We are going to discuss taking small steps and making it easy for you...because that famous saying “done is better than perfect” also applies to small groups.

Control: Why should we release some control?

Now, that we have discussed some of the frequent barriers to small groups, lets chat about the benefits and why it may be worth it to release some control and move towards a more student lead approach.

First, kids learn at different rates. One of my most beloved principals used to say “all kids can learn, some need more time” and I think that is really important to remember. Some students need to hear it once and can immediately apply it and internalize it. Other students need to hear it five different ways from different people, experience it tactically, and need more practice. Small groups support this because we are allowing students to move at different paces. 

Small groups also allow you to better facilitate the learning process because of these different rates. You can quickly provide feedback and then extend the lesson in a small group with more challenging questions. You can also provide scaffolding questions, correct misconceptions, and generally provide more immediate feedback to those students who need it. A small group naturally allows you to differentiate and customize instruction to the few students sitting at the small group table. 

Thirdly, it allows you to better progress monitor. Because your students are sitting right in front of you and you are giving immediate feedback, you are able to better see where they are. This is excellent progress monitoring and simply has to be documented...because really who can remember it all. 

And lastly, the best part about utilizing a small group is that you can catch mistakes and misconceptions before a student practices incorrectly. I think this is really key for students! Imagine working on something only to realize you have done it all wrong or followed the wrong process. I can think of a lot of examples of this when it comes to cooking and baking! I have literally made it all the way down the recipe only to realize that my “dinner” needs to sit for two hours or the cookies I need for today need to sit overnight to chill.

Students in our classrooms do this all the time and that is defeating. But with the use of a small group, we can provide that immediate feedback and correct those misconceptions before they have the opportunity to practice wrong. 

Point 3: Keep It Simple

Idea 1: Virtual learning idea for small groups.

- invite them separately to a hangout?

Idea 2: Make the small group table a place students want to go - stickers, dry erase markers, high fives.

Idea 3: Decide what students (homogenous or heterogeneous) are coming and what skill is being practiced. 

Idea 4: gauge understanding before you start on the mini-lesson with students

I have mentioned this many times on the podcast, but in episode #2,  I go into detail about how our brain hates to do hard things. So, I really want to make this as simple and streamlined as possible...small groups are great for instruction, great for kids, and can... be... simple...we just can’t overcomplicate it.

Now, if you are a small group wiz, then you may have a much more advanced system which I would love to hear about! But, for the purpose of this episode, I am going to focus on getting started and keeping it simple.

This can be simple and streamlined in many ways...the biggest is to not feel the need to create a new assignment or new work for your small group. You can do this! There might come a time when you have different activities for your small group, but don’t let that be a barrier. You can totally use the same practice or materials that the rest of the class is using. You are going to differentiate with manipulatives, your line of questioning, and the strategies you present. 

The main things you want to plan: who you are going to pull, what skill are you going to work on and gather your materials. This might include models or manipulatives if they apply, but it most definitely has to include a timer! This is the only way you will stay on track. In fact, many teachers recommend projecting that big-timer so that the entire class can see it.

You also want the small group area to be a place that students want to go to. The goal is that they will see the value of the small group and it will become a part of the routine of your classroom. You can do this in a few simple ways...use dry erase markers and whiteboards instead of paper and pencil, write on the tables with whiteboard markers, give out stickers, use scented markers, give a lot of praise and encouragement. 

The last thing to keep simple is your documentation. It can be as simple as a binder with pages that outline who was in the small group and what skills you worked on. If you are a middle school math teacher, then you may be interested in our small group forms pack that is in our shop. These are ready-to-go pages that outline the different standards and you can easily document when you met and what progress was made. 

If you are listening in and you haven’t pulled a small group before, the end of the year is actually a great time to give it a try! I loved using the end of the year to experiment with new ideas because it was low risk and I was able to work out a lot of kinks for the next year. 

So, by the time this airs it will be mid-April and state testing will be wrapping up in a few weeks. This is a great time to give it a try! Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Think through your expectations and communicate them clearly, but don’t make a huge deal out of it since it's just an experiment. 
• Don’t overcomplicate things. You don’t have to have a different assignment, you can pull a small group and work through the same assignment other students have.
• Set realistic expectations by starting with one small group in a class period. 

Lately, let's keep in mind the very valuable phrase “done is better than perfect”! If you are starting out, then pat yourself on the back for trying something new and better meeting the needs of your students. Take 3-5 minutes to reflect at the end of the day and decide if there are any necessary adjustments you can make. 

On our Maneuvering the Middle blog, we have many posts that outline some of the specific things you can do at the small group table, as well as organizational materials for your small groups and progress monitoring, so be sure to check out our show notes at maneuveringthemiddle.com/episode9.

So as a quick recap... small groups are an excellent way to differentiate your instruction, to provide more timely feedback, and meet the various needs in your classrooms...they also don’t have to be overly complicated or overwhelming! You can start small and tweak your process as you go! In fact, you can give them a try at the end of the year so that you are able to make adjustments and improvements for the next year. 

Thanks for listening! If you don’t want to miss future episodes, please take a minute to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever else you are tuning in. Our Maneuvering the Middle team is loving this new format and we are hopeful that these ideas can spur you on as you do the good work in your classroom. Your downloads, rating and general enthusiasm help keep us going!   For all of the links, resources, and freebies mentioned today in one easy place, so check out maneuveringthemiddle.com/episode9. 

I’m Noelle Pickering… and you’ve been listening to the Good Morning Teacher podcast… Until next time, friends, make it a great week!