There are many ways to keep kids organized in the classroom. Research has shown that while small group instruction has many benefits, it is one of the most underutilized and ineffectively implemented instructional strategies in early childhood classrooms.

Surrendering some control to young children as they learn together can be an intimidating concept. Understandably, this teaching format can add an element of chaos to your preschool classroom – yes, herding cats comes to mind!

However, if you give children the opportunity to learn together, your lesson can go places you might not expect and prove to be a rewarding experience as you can tailor your learning to the needs of a smaller group.

Before we focus on small group learning, let's unpack what group learning is. It sounds straightforward – children learn together as a group. Don't we do that anymore?

There are two ways educators can practice group learning:

Whole group learning is a standard teaching model where the teacher leads the class and the group learns as a collective. This is a traditional teacher-centered way of education.

Small group learning is where the class is divided into smaller groups under the guidance of an educator to work together on specific skills. This involves input and cooperation on the part of the children.

How to organize a small group in childcare

1. Now that we've covered what small group learning is, let's go over what it looks like in practice.

2. Group activity structure

3. Group learning does not mean unstructured learning.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Educators should participate in the management of the activity

2. Step back and let the children work through the activity - this is a great opportunity to document their observations and track the progress they are making

3. Children should be socially engaged and cooperative

4. There should be a collective product that is the result of group work.

Also Read : Whats The Right Age to Start Preschool