Three Strategies to Help Manage Groups in the Classroom?

Answer 1

Are you thinking about implementing groups in your classroom? When it comes to assigning students to work in groups, it takes a great deal of time to put group work into action in the classroom. There are three strategies that can help individuals manage groups in the classroom. These strategies include the following: Planning Groups. Individuals may consider this as a time-consuming task, but it is very necessary to take the time out to plan for groups. When planning for groups, individuals need to think about whether the students know each other and how well will they work together in a group setting. For example, groups may be assigned based upon a previous test grade on a specific topic or even common interests related to a specific topic. Therefore, individuals need to ensure that they identify the criteria necessary for assigning each group so that it will be on file for future reference, just in case administrators ask for it. Not to mention, this type of information will come in handy when it comes time to change group assignments to ensure that students have experience working in diverse groups. Assigning Each Group Member a Task: Each group member should be focused on contributing to the group. By assigning each group member a task, individuals are able to hold each group member accountable and reduce any behaviors that may arise in the group. For instance, individuals who are creating groups can assign the following tasks: (a) Collect Materials; (b) Lead the Group; (c) Write for the Group; and (d) Keep time for the Group. Each of these tasks may seem simple, but they definitely do keep groups on task. Interacting with Each Group. This may seem like the time to grade papers or even check email while students are working in groups. Well, it’s not…this time should be used to interact with each group. This is how individuals will be able to ensure that students stay on task, but most importantly, they will be able to help the struggling group members or even model how to work in a group setting for students. These are three strategies that can be used to help manage groups in the classroom. The bottom line is that group work takes a great deal of time and effort and students should be strategically assigned to groups to ensure that each learner has the best group learning experience possible for a specific lesson.