Flexible Grouping

Description

What is it?
Flexible grouping is the strategy where students are placed in groups based on their readiness level, interests, or learning styles. The groups are flexible because the groups can change between each task, assignment, or unit to best support individual student learning. This strategy is at the heart of differentiated instruction. It enables the teacher to place students in the best environment for specific learning and allows students to develop positive interpersonal skills and learn within their optimum interest & readiness levels. The strategy allows the use of a wide variety of materials at various levels.

These groups may be homogenous or heterogeneous. They may be student-selected or teacher-selected. Group assignments may be purposeful or random. Groups may work together for a day or a month. Flexible grouping also provides opportunities for independent work. Flexible grouping options expand and enrich instructional delivery and the opportunities for student success.

Implementation:

1. Identify the learning objective for the activity or lesson.

2. Identify the specific activity to support the objective.

3. Consider your purpose for grouping students for the activity. Select the method for grouping based on your purpose and the anticipated learning outcomes.

5. Determine the expected student product(s) as a result of the activity.

6. Determine the grading procedure to be used with the groups.

7. Establish group rules, norms, and project timelines.

8. Be specific, clear, and concise when explaining the projected work to students.

9. Monitor student progress during the activity.

Quick Tips

  • Consider the grouping methods below:

    • Learning styles

    • Reading levels

    • Shared language

    • Specific skill level

    • Heterogeneous

    • Interest areas

    • Random

    • Social strengths

    • Math levels

    • Gender

    • Chronological age or grade level

    • Culture

    • Peer teaching

    • General ability

    • Recent assessments

    • Prior learning

    • Re-teaching groups

    • Cooperative groups

    • Student choice

    • Skills attainment

    • Multiple Intelligence

  • Make sure that students have opportunities to be part of homogenous and heterogenous groups equally.

  • Provide for both teacher-selected and student-selected groups.

  • Alternate purposeful assignment to groups with random assignment to groups.

  • Instruct students how to work collaboratively and cooperatively.

  • Meet with each group each time they are together.

  • Allocate the amount of time with each group based on their needs.

  • Establish behavior guidelines for group work.

  • Clearly communicate expectations about the quality of student work.

  • Create tasks that students can manage independently after you give directions.

  • Develop a system for students to get assistance while you’re working with other groups.

  • Make decisions about grading – will it be individual, group, or a combination?

Resources

Did you know?

  • This strategy is one of the top ten strategies recommended by the Stetson & Associates Group.