3 Small Group Tips to Close the Achievement Gap in Your Elementary Math Class
Ok, let’s talk about small groups. They are the absolute best when they go well, but completely overwhelming to set up (especially for elementary math)!
Reading teachers have it fairly easy. They have a long block of time to teach and are not rushing through content. I absolutely LOVED teaching reading!
Math, on the other hand, is an entirely different ball game. Not only are there a TON of standards to get through, but we have to teach students how to solve problems using so many different representations. Where do we even begin when it comes to catching students up who have fallen behind?
In this blog post I’m sharing three tips for conducting small groups that can be implemented right away, and will help you close the achievement gap in your classroom. I’ll be covering:
Tip #1: Have an efficient way to identify students who need small group support in real-time
Tip #2: Pick math games that review previously taught skills
Tip #3: Incorporate math manipulatives when conducting small group interventions
So if you feel like you have never quite mastered small groups for math, are rushing to get through lessons, and are spending way too much time planning it all, then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s jump right in.
Tip #1: Have an efficient way to identify students who need small group support in real-time
As teachers we are usually told to give a quick quiz at the end of the week, and plan our small groups for the following week based on that data. Early on I tried that approach and it just didn’t work. I had to move so quickly through each standard that students just continually fell behind. It also caused me to have to plan multiple lessons on several different topics at one time, instead of just planning one lesson. It was inefficient and too much work!
There is also no need to make exit tickets or demonstrations of learning. It’s just one more thing you have to create for each lesson and it takes up instructional time. By eliminating this step you can jump right into your first small group as soon as the whole group lesson is over.
But we still need a way to identify students who need help. I did this by incorporating fill in the blank style checks for understanding during my whole group lessons and students would respond on their mini whiteboards using expo markers. I could then quickly see who was understanding the content, and who was struggling.
This approach is incredibly efficient at closing the achievement gap because you can catch students right away who have a misconception. Just jot down the students who need help, and pull them for a small group as soon as the lesson is over. That way they are ready to go for the next day and won’t fall further behind.
My elementary math lessons are interactive powerpoint presentations that incorporate checks for understanding throughout. These lessons saved me from having to spend hours preparing activities and content every day, and my students had incredible success with 100% passing math in just two short months my first year teaching. I have no doubt your students will love these lessons as much as mine did!
Tip #2: Pick math games that review previously taught skills
A huge component of being able to conduct small groups is to make sure the rest of your class is engaged in a relevant activity. I found math centers way too difficult to plan for. I just didn’t have enough time to set them up or explain to students what to do at each one.
Instead, pick one or two math games that students can play throughout the week. Pick games that are a review of a previously taught skill so students are not just seeing a topic one time and then moving on to the next. Set the games up at the beginning of the week and have a system in place for students to pair up easily. Make it easy on yourself by ensuring students can access materials independently without having to interrupt you!
Once students have learned how to play multiple games, you can rotate through them during the week. Don’t worry about having several different activities going on at the same time. Start simple (one game for one week), and then build on more from there.
Tip #3: Incorporate math manipulatives when conducting small group interventions
I made the mistake of trying math centers that used math manipulatives, and my students took this as an opportunity for imaginative play! I also didn’t have a full class set of each manipulative, so small groups was a perfect opportunity for me to use them with my students.
If you are unsure how to use math manipulatives with your students, you are not alone! I’ve been there! Check out my other blog post, 3 Hands-On Activities to Teach 2nd Grade Multiplication and Division, which explains how to use snap cubes, square tiles, and cuisenaire rods to teach multiplication and division.
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