{"id":2110,"date":"2024-09-11T14:37:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T18:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.nearpod.com\/?p=2110"},"modified":"2024-09-11T14:48:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T18:48:37","slug":"6-reasons-to-try-small-group-instruction-with-nearpod","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/6-reasons-to-try-small-group-instruction-with-nearpod\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips for successful small group instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every educator knows the difference that 1:1, personalized instruction can make for a child, but when class sizes prohibit such individualized time, many teachers turn to small group instruction. The benefits of small group instruction are especially important as class sizes grow with the increasing teacher shortage<\/a>. Nowadays, you may walk into a classroom and see the majority of students working on one task while the teacher has pulled a smaller group to the side for more targeted, data-driven instruction<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of small group instruction?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Small group instruction supports classroom management, builds community, and, most importantly, supports individual students\u2019 needs. With small groups in the classroom, teachers can better tailor their instruction to students\u2019 learning goals and provide meaningful feedback in the moment. The targeted skill development provides students with more instances of practice in an environment that encourages increased student participation and engagement. As a result, students are more likely to stay focused, ask questions, and share their ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is small group teaching?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Small group instruction is a student-centered teaching method<\/a> in which the teacher still provides the instruction but to a smaller cohort of students. The group size can range from two to many; most teachers appreciate the valuable interaction time and keep the group size to under five or six students. Often, while small group instruction is happening, the other students are engaging in similar small group work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small group teaching with Nearpod\u2019s support<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nearpod embraces more innovative teaching strategies by turning what may be passive learning experiences into more active learning experiences<\/a>. Nearpod\u2019s platform can transform student engagement with content that is visually rich, activities that promote active learning, and data-rich reporting to better inform instruction. And the beauty of Nearpod\u2019s design is the flexibility it offers and that educators require.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teachers can assign the whole group one lesson, activity, or task via Nearpod Student-Paced mode<\/a>, and then work directly with a smaller group of students using a Live Participation lesson<\/a> targeting a particular skill or topic. In both instances, the teacher can leverage real-time data via the Teacher Dashboard to inform small group instruction and also monitor the rest of the class\u2019s focus and progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Foster a love of learning in every student with Nearpod.<\/strong> Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
Teachers: Sign up for free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
Administrators: Schedule a call<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

7 Tips for successful small group instruction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Target your instruction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a given that students have varied and individual needs. Yet, teachers often lament that there is not enough time in the day to address each student as much as they\u2019d like (required instructional time varies from state to state<\/a>). Whether you teach elementary, middle, or high school, small groups can be particularly effective when grouped based on students’ individual needs and abilities. With small group instruction, you will have the opportunity to rotate around the classroom and differentiate instruction as needed. Small group instruction examples meet Tier II of the MTSS framework<\/a>. You may want to move between clusters of desks or pull students to an area of the classroom where you can host mini-conferences to review work or further support skill development in a more targeted manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n