Flexible Grouping
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Transcript of Flexible Grouping
Flexible Grouping
What is it?How can I use it?Presented by
Charity DowellNational Conference on Singapore Math
Strategies2011
The Challenge…Differentiate Instruction…Foster Independence & ownership….Manage the classroom…Assess, re-teach, enrich, & cover curriculum…… learning gaps…
FLEXIBLE GROUPING
History…• 1980’s homogeneous grouping• Results
– small effect size– inequality
“…in other words it does little to narrow the gap between the low ability students and the middle and the high ability students”
Marzano, Classroom Instruction That Works, p.85
One Solution…• Cooperative Learning/Flexible Grouping• Benefits:
»Positive Interdependence»Face to Face pro-motive interaction» Individual and group accountability» Interpersonal and small group skills»Group Processing»Opportunities for decision making, aka
problem solvingMarzano, 2001
Definition of Flexible Grouping:
The informal grouping and regrouping of students throughout the school day based a upon a variety of criteria to create learning experiences that are focused on maintaining consistently high expectations for all students.
How does it relate to Singapore Math
Strategies?
There is a better way… differentiation
through flexible grouping.
Research Says Flexible Grouping…• Raises school achievement (Gentry, 1999).• Equips students with social skills and conflict
resolution abilities (Frydentall, LeWald, Walls, & Zarring, 2001).
• Provides ownership of classroom behaviors (Baugous & Bendery, 2000).
• Provides opportunities for social interactions (Valentino, 2000).
• Increases individual achievement levels (Gentry, 1999).
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Planning for Grouping:Questions to Consider
• When does grouping benefit students?
• When does grouping facilitate instruction?
• Which activities lend themselves to group work?
• How do you determine group membership?
Teacher or student
lead?
Classroom ActivitiesGrouping Options Teacher’s Role Student Activities
Whole Group/ Small Groups
•Explains procedures•Provides instructional scaffolding•Facilitates discussion•Provides explicit instruction•Affirms student diversity
•Outlining day’s agenda/schedule•Giving an overview of concepts•Sharing personal works•Presenting strategies•Developing background knowledge
Individual •Guides individual development•Encourages individual student interests•Independence & Stamina
•Applying key concepts, strategies and skills•Composing written response•Developing understanding•Creating own investigations
Flexible GroupingCollaborative •Establishes expectations
•Explicit step by step instructions•Scaffolding
•Participate in short term groups•Practice conceptsApply strategies & skills
Performance Based •Identify student needs•Guide understanding•Opportunities for success•Positive reinforcement•Concrete & pictorial representations
•Participate in short term groups•Develop understanding of specific concepts•Practice strategies & skills•Succeed
Pairs or independent groups (never more than 2-4)
•Identify students’ interests & needs•Models instructional strategies•Anchor charts & expectations.
•Assisting partners•Tutoring peers•Collaborating•Practicing academic skills•Interpersonal stills
Example: The Daily 5
Cooperative GroupsThink Pair & Share
PracticeGames
Interest Based ActivitiesSkills Based Activities
Management…• How can flexible
grouping be incorporated into the classroom?•Centers/Workstations
•Cooperative Learning•Peer tutoring
•Assistants, volunteers•Student choices
Now let’s see what it looks like in a real classroom…Work Stations…
Keep them Flexible
• Where are the bubble students?
Urgent! Urgent!What is our purpose?
Who’s in the group?
How much time should I spend with each group?
Achievement gaps occur when students are “Left behind”, “Just don’t get it”. Use cooperative learning time to address those needs.
Identify specific needs & interests.
Forming groups
How do you form groups?
Be creative
Share ideas with your neighbor.
Birthdays in seasons
Puzzle pieces
Stickers on card, find matching sticker
Popsicle sticks with names – last one picked chooses group
Ideas for Organization:• Appointments
Time Name
8 _______________________________________________
9 _______________________________________________
10 _______________________________________________
11 _______________________________________________
12 _______________________________________________
1 _______________________________________________
2 _______________________________________________
APPOINTMENTS
Singapore Math Strategies using Flexible Grouping
Number Bonds• Students in K-2 study number facts to 10.• Students spend a significant amount of time on each
number.• Students study number facts (bonds) to understand
part-whole relationships.• After students master numbers through 9 they work
on making bonds of 10. Ten is an anchor number.
Number Bonds
Number Bracelets
Practice number bonds & whole to
part.
Addition is commutative: Young mathematicians need
hands on experience to discover this principle.
How many number bonds are there for a for any given number?
Answer: Always one more than the number itself.
Tens Frame
Continue making
number bonds with tens
frames.How many bonds were you able to
create?
Tip: Use a circle map to record your
answers.
10
9+1 10+0
0+10 5+52+8 7+3
4+6 1+9
3+7 8+2 6+4
Ten bracelet
Number bonds
Tens family song
My head
My hands
My toes
Number Bond BooksCreate number bond boards for all of the bonds you are working on.
Leave out 1 of the numbers. In the blank box include a piece of Velcro.
Have a set of numbers 1-9 with velcro on the back.
Students fill in the missing numbers to complete the number bond
“Make Eleven”
• Groups: Three students• Materials: None
Directions: This game is great when you have a few minutes between classes or subjects and want to practice addition without getting out materials.
All three students stand in a circle and put their right hands in a closed fist position, behind their backs. Without anyone seeing, each student opens their fist to show one, two, three, four, or five fingers.
Together, they count to three, and then put their opened right hands inside the circle. They count their fingers. The goal is the make a sum of eleven.
“The Facts of Life”(A.K.A. Math War)
• Groups: Two or more• Materials: Playing or Number Cards
• Directions: A student distributes cards, face down, to student players. Each player turns over two cards and adds them. The student with the greatest sum is the winner and gets all the cards. In the event of a tie, cards from the “round” are left on the table. Another round of adding is done. Winner takes all!
“Facts on the Brain”• Groups: Three students• Materials: Playing or Number Cards• Directions: the object of this game is to practice finding sums and missing addends.
One player will be the sum finder, while the other two will be addends.• 1. The sum finder gives each addend a pile of cards that are face down.• 2. The sum finder counts aloud,” 1,2,3!”• 3. On “3,” each addend lifts a card from his or her pile and places it on their heads.• 4. The sum finder announces the sum of the two numbers.• 5. Knowing the sum, each addend looks at their partner’s number to determine
their missing addend.• 6. The first student to announce the correct missing addend wins that round and
gets both cards.• 7. The students repeat steps 2 through 6 and continue until their cards decks are
used.• 8. When finished with the decks, students rotate roles and begin practicing again.
How do I assess this type of learning?
• Contribution chips.• Checks for understanding.• Product. • Anchor charts.• Progress : academic or behavior .
Aspects of formative assessment
Where the learner is going Where the learner is How to get there
Teacher Clarify and share learning intentions
Engineering effective discussions, tasks and
activities that elicit evidence of learning
Providing feedback that moves learners
forward
Peer Understand and share learning intentions
Activating students as learningresources for one another
Learner Understand learning intentions
Activating students as ownersof their own learning
References:• http://www.eduplace.com/science/profdev/articles/valentino.html • http://www.syntiro.org/resources/handouts/PDF/handout%20-%20fg%20-%20tips%20on%20
managing.pdf
• http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Dozen-Surefire-Tips-on-Flexible-Grouping-and-Small-Group-Learning&id=4872300
• Marzano, R. (2001). Classroom Instruction That Works: research based strategies that work. McRiel: Danvers, MA.
• Moser, & Boushey. (2006). The Daily 5: Fostering literacy independence in the classroom. Crystal Spring Books:
• http://www.learner.org/workshops/readingk2/pdf/session6/FlexibleGroups.2.pdf • www.rtsd.org/59996823234213/.../FLEXIBLE_GROUPING_WS.ppt • http://www.fcpsteach.org/docs/Differentiation.packet.pdf • http://www.docstoc.com/docs/25205421/IMPROVEMENT-OF-OFF-TASK-BEHAVIOR-OF-ELEM
ENTARY-AND-HIGH-SCHOOL
• http://www.eduplace.com/science/profdev/articles/valentino.html • Bellanca, J. & Fogarty, R. (1991): Blueprints for Thinking in the Cooperative Classroom. H.B.E.• Forsten, National Conference on Singapore Math Strategies 2010