GROUPING
STRAT
EGIES F
OR
ELLS A
ND ALL
STUDENTS
DAVID
HOLZ
MEYER F
RANKLIN
PIER
CE SCHOOL D
ISTR
ICT
WA
BE
20
14
Content:• Learn how
to effectively group students
• Learn strategies for making groups work better
Language:• Discuss
ways to group students and make those groups work more effectively
OBJECTIVES
WHAT FEATURES MAKE AN EFFECTIVE SMALL GROUP?
• Think and then talk about this question with the people near you for 3 minutes
• Online Stopwatch/
MARZANO SAYS GROUPS MUST HAVE…..• They must include every member
of the group• Each person has a valid job to
perform with a known standard of completion
• Each member is invested in completing the task or learning goal
• Each member is accountable individually and collectively
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
• Communicative language teaching: groups complete assignments, projects, and presentations.
• Cooperative learning encourages group interaction to help each member become more successful (Kagan, 1999; Sachs, Candlin, Rose, & Shum, 2003).
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
BUT: It’s not enough to just hope for a positive outcome:
• Group conflict, unbalanced work, and poor interpersonal communication may hinder students’ learning (Robbins & Hunsaker, 2012).
• When implemented successfully, teamwork can create synergy and encourage interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills (Robbins & Hunsaker, 2012).
SKILLS TRAINING: GROUP WORK?
• Students need to be taught how to work in groups – it’s not an automatic skill.
• Many students have little / no experience, or negative experiences.
• Students need to understand the value of group work. –Metacognition
• Teachers need to know how to implement effective teams – quickly!
QUICK GROUPING STRATEGIES
*Playing cards (can be random or intentional)
*Pre-made popsicle sticks
*Pre-made pairing cards , famous pairings (see example) synonyms, etc.
*Stand up, take five big steps, and find a partner near you.
*Mingle to the music; when it stops, you’ve found your new partner.
*Clock partners (see example)
Partner you’ve assigned based on ability/skill levels
Partner you’ve assigned based on behavior
Partner of their choosing (nearby)
Partner of their choosing (far
away)
COMPETITIVENESS • Jeopardy• Points given and taken away
corresponding to privileges for the group• See which group can come up with the
best or most complete answer and give them kudos
TIME LIMITS• 5- 15 time minute chunks • Write down on the whiteboard the
time when students should be done with a particular task or use an online stopwatch
• Instill a sense of urgency in students by giving them less time than they think they need and adjusting accordingly
PRESENTATIONS• Make every group give a short 3
to 4 minute presentation so if they didn’t work hard they’ll have to endure public ridicule
JIG-SAW• Every student does a part of an
assignment• For example, if there is an
assignment with four questions and a group with four students have each student answer one question and then share answers.
MIX IT UP! OFTEN• Don’t always stick with the same
groups whether your groups are by ability level or not
• Students should get used to working with everyone
INFORMATION GAP ACTIVITIES
• One group knows things another group doesn’t know and visa versa.
• For example, parts of a story, information or a poster on the wall that has to be dictated.
Information________ Activities
ALL STUDENTS TURN-IN A PAPER
• In order to see that all students participated have all students turn-in whatever their group produced
RUBRIC• Defines what teacher expects
from students, provides example/explanation of how to perform the task.
PROTOCOLS • Help a group function more
effectively • For a list of many group protocols
and activities go to http://www.nsrfharmony.org/
which is the website for the National School Reform Faculty
Colored Cups
Can be used to answer multiple choice questions or to monitor student learning
No questions
Hesitant/ UnsureNeed help right away
GRADED ITEMS 1. Team plan for:
• communication• working together• resolving possible conflict
2. Team timeline of major deadlines and goals
3. Final project and/or presentation
4. Team evaluation (completed together)
5. Self evaluation (individual & confidential)
6. Peer evaluation (individual & confidential)
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS• Personality profiles (self-awareness)• In-class work time• Conflict resolution options & escalation• Your plan for team members who:
• have poor attendance• don’t do their share of the work• receive poor peer evaluations• cannot resolve conflict with teammates
USEFUL GROUPING IDEAS
• With a person sitting next to you, talk about how you will use grouping strategies in an upcoming lesson.
• Be ready to have one person share out.