The purpose of this study is to investigate whether small group instruction in kindergarten widens or closes the achievement gap in mathematics between EL students and non-EL students. The first objective is to examine whether the impacts of small group instruction on math learning differ between EL kindergartners and their non-EL peers. For…

The author discusses the utilization of small group teaching strategies which offer a unique opportunity to sensitize students to group skills. He believes that small groups provide an environment where the maximum number of students can learn through practice. (Author/KC)

The author outlines a process, suitable to any grade level or subject, for forming small instructional groups for mastery learning. (SJL)

The negative effects of long-term ability grouping has been discussed often in educational literature, and recent research has identified several areas of concern, including a need for more variety in intra-class instructional grouping. Whole language educators are apparently so dissatisfied with the traditional, rigid three-group plan that they…

Recent British discussion paper raises issue of how children should be organized for teaching in primary classrooms. Although contrasting relative strengths and limitations of whole class and group organization, paper fails to show how teacher should move from one form of classroom organization to another. Article reviews different classroom…

This fact sheet on cluster grouping of gifted students explains what cluster groups are, contrasts cluster grouping with tracking, offers a rationale for cluster grouping, outlines the special learning needs of gifted students, lists specific skills needed by cluster teachers, points out that cluster grouping should supplement rather than replace…

The authors place emphasis on the opportunity for active learning on the part of the student in a discussion of the advantages, conditions, and uses of small group instruction in contrast to the lecturing or tutoring methods of teaching mathematics. (MN)

Presents two basic parallel block elementary school schedules (schedules in which a block of time is scheduled for essential and/or desired small skill groups parallel to large instructional activities). Contends that parallel block scheduling in elementary schools can lead to improved instructional programs for low achievers. (GC)

Data from 12 2-hour observations of 41 elementary school classroom teachers were used to investigate classroom management problems associated with the use of small group instruction. Student engagement during small group instruction was compared with that in whole class instruction, seatwork, and transitions. Classroom narratives of subsamples of…

The results of an earlier experimental study of the effectiveness of a set of principles for small group instruction in first grade reading groups called for a revision of the list of principles. Revised principles were written for (1) group organization (seating, transitions, starting the lesson); (2) the introduction of lessons and activities…

Two public relations campaigns courses designed to provide senior students with practical public relations skills were organized in different ways. One class, employing small four- or five-member teams, implemented short-term projects that consisted of planning and implementing a campaign during the nine-week term. In the other class, students…

Three conclusions were drawn about within-class grouping after reviewing the work of several researchers on the following topics: teacher and student behavior, academic achievement, perceptions about reading groups, social class membership and reading group assignment, and the role of group cohesiveness. The conclusions were that: (1) although the…

A study tested two hypotheses aimed at explaining the "self-fulfilling prophesy" that results when students are divided into ability group systems. The differential instruction hypothesis explains achievement differentials produced by grouping systems in terms of the differential instruction received by students. The peer differentials…

New and innovative approaches to teaching in elementary schools are often advocated by university teacher education programs but fail to reach the actual classroom. This phenomenon was explored by interviewing graduates from the University of Utah elementary education program. These teachers were required to take two courses designed to prepare…

These digests provide information for educators about the nature of cooperation and how cooperative principles can be used to restructure classrooms, administrative hierarchies, and work relationships of all types. Digest 1 describes the competitive, individual, and cooperative interaction patterns and examines the impact of cooperative learning…