//Math Workshop Benefit: Flexible Grouping//

Flexible grouping is a temporary way of grouping students. This concept allows for students to work with various classmates throughout the year, depending on the activity or learning outcome. Instead of keeping students with the same three or four peers throughout the entire school year, educators instead change up the grouping of the students hourly, weekly, or monthly, again depending on the situation. Flexible grouping is an important part of differentiating instruction, which additionally is an important part of guided math.

What are the benefits of flexible grouping?

1. Meets the social, academic and emotional needs of each student

2. The educator can target specific needs of individual students

3. Students can work with and learn from all of their peers, while comfortably contributing their input

4. Prepares students for the workplace by allowing them to work with a variety of different personalities when working in groups and also allowing them to develop independence when working individually

How can educators implement flexible grouping?

PREPLANNING, PREPLANNING, PREPLANNING!!

1. Continuously assessing students is absolutely a must

2. Create your groups by using assessment data, student needs, student abilities, and interests

3. Be sure to mix up your groups, so that students have the opportunity to work with different classmates

4. Your goal should be to meet the needs of every individual student

5. If you are going to use flexible grouping in your classroom, an systematic chart is a necessity to keep your students and yourself on track

6. Be specific and detailed when giving instructions to each group

7. Model your expectations

To achieve a student-centered classroom with independent learners, be patient and consistent with your students. "Flexible grouping is a strategy that is developed over a period of time."

For more information on flexible grouping please check out the article Flexible Grouping as a Differentiated Instruction Strategy by Janelle Cox

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