Preparing for, and running small groups is something I am continuing to improve. They are ever changing, constantly rescheduled, and I’m always trying to find a way to improve them. I’m found a few things I do help them to be successful:
1. Planning ahead (I always strive for it)
2. Making a “plan” and writing it on my whiteboard for students
3. Check-ins
I start every single group with a “check-in”. It’s something my kids have come to expect, and some of them will even fire off their number when they walk in! If I need the number for data, or when I’m starting to teach this skill, I use a paper form, but after a while, a poster visual is all my kiddos need.
It’s super simple to use: Ask your students to think for a minute and circle (or just keep in their mind) how their day is going so far. Give them a minute. Go around in a circle and have them say which number they picked and why. The why is really the most important part. It’s how I find out things that are going on at the playground, at home, or at school, that my students otherwise might not mention when I ask them “How’s it going?”
You can click on the image above, or visit my TpT store for this download.
What do you find effective for check-ins?