I was taught mathematics in a whole-class setting. All students heard the same lesson, got the same assignments, and moved at the same pace. Even then, I recognized that some students struggled to keep up and others were bored at what they felt was a slow pace. We have the opportunity to change that for our students through flexible grouping practices. At times, whole-class instruction meets our needs, but at other times, cooperative groups, guided math groups (small teacher-led groups), or centers might better address our students’ needs.

As your students work in pairs or teams to solve a math problem, can you meet with a small group to support their learning? The small group might be working on the same problem as the rest of the class, but your support, through questions that guide their thinking, will ensure their success.

Do you notice students who already know the skill you are introducing? Could they work at centers to enhance their learning or work with partners on a more-challenging task?

Do you observe your students as they practice computational skills, to assess which students might benefit from an impromptu small-group session to review the skill?

How do you use flexible grouping to better meet your students’ learning needs?