Small Group Reading Instruction

There are so many parts to the school day, and teachers are constantly asked to add more things to their day. There is not enough time in the school day. I find that sometimes teachers have to make changes to their work blocks and one of the things that can get cut, is the small group reading instruction. Hopefully, this blog post will give you a reason to think about WHY small group instruction is so important.

It’s essential that kids are given small group reading instruction for them to become better readers. I have seen it time and time again. When a child is often struggling with reading, and we try to figure out what is going on, it sometimes comes out that the teacher may not feel comfortable with teaching small reading groups. 

The good news is that if you do feel uncomfortable with small group instruction, I hope to write some blog post that will put you on a path to feeling confident and comfortable with small group work.

Small group instruction is a time when a teacher can assist students in areas in which we can offer challenges and the opportunity to problem solve. It is a time in which the teacher can see more deeply into a reader's mind.

I think as teachers can sometimes over think small group instruction and believe that it is more complicated than it actually is or has to be. 

Why Do Small Group?

 So here are my reasons on why you should start to think about doing small group instruction if it is new to you:

1.    More kids get instruction when you do small group work.

2.    A small group is an efficient way to differentiate instructions; we can tailor instruction to meet the needs of the kids

3.    Small groups are flexible and can change based on students needs.

4.    Relationships develop among classmates when they read together.

5.    Students have the opportunity to learn from another classmate.

6.    Small group instruction builds classroom community.

7.    Kids find out more because the get more explicit instruction and more time to practice.

8.    Seeing kids more in a small group gives you information about where they are as readers.

9. Allows more time for kids to practice and have a more focused goal (one teaching point).

10. When discussing the text, all voices are heard.

The bottom line is that when we get in the habit of meeting small groups, we get to know our readers better. 

In my building, teachers are aiming to meet with three groups a day. Some kindergarten classrooms have TA’s who can meet with a group too. Every child does not need to meet with the classroom teacher in a day. The neediest readers would meet with the teacher four/five times a week and some groups two times a week, some once a week. If a child is reading well beyond grade level, they may be reading with the teacher in a one-to-one conference. 

I was recently having a PD workshop on small group instruction and my department head said, “The best thing about the small group is that if you do it wrong, or it doesn’t go right, there is always tomorrow!”

Just like our students, the only way we can get better at small group instruction is if we do it. 

What do you find successful or challenging with small group instruction?

Joyfully yours in getting to know our readers in small groups, 

Melissa