A Guide to Effective Small Group Instruction

This workshop provides educators with strategies to effectively implement small group instruction in K-12 classrooms. It emphasizes the importance of differentiating instruction based on students' abilities and learning styles, and using real-time data to adapt teaching methods. Participants will explore practical methods for creating flexible student groups using assessment data and student work examples. The workshop also offers concrete practices for rigorous implementation, including intentional planning, establishing clear routines and expectations, and applying aggressive monitoring to ensure active student engagement and ongoing formative assessment.

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• Challenges in differentiating instruction effectively
  
  
• Difficulty monitoring student progress in real-time
  
  
• Managing classroom dynamics during small group instruction
  

1. Intentional Planning for Differentiation: Participants will learn how to effectively plan small groups by using assessment data to create flexible groups and tailor instructional activities that meet varied student needs, interests, and learning styles.
   
   
2. Rigorous Implementation of Small Groups: Educators will acquire strategies to clearly establish routines, model expected behaviors, and ensure active engagement of students during group work, promoting higher-level thinking and problem-solving skills.
   
   
3. Effective Monitoring and Assessment: The workshop equips teachers with techniques such as aggressive monitoring to deliver immediate, meaningful feedback, systematically track student progress, and utilize student responses and misconceptions as teaching moments during the lesson closure.