Webcast: Small Groups: Making Decisions for
Individual Learners within a Small Group Setting
This
webcast emphasized the importance of small group work and having students
collaborate together when practicing literacy and fluency. Literacy is an essential component when
students are learning and applying reading and writing strategies into their
daily work. As a teacher, I think
the most important thing to focus on is to acknowledge what the learner needs. I think this simple task can be easily lost in the process
of teaching a lesson that needs to be covered. Adding to this statement, I also believe that grouping
students together based on their needs is beneficial to their learning and to
your effectiveness as a teacher.
Every student learns differently—some can listen and understand where as
some need visual instruction.
Using small groups allows you to pick books based on their reading
levels and interests, focus on specific concepts depending on the students’
needs, and allows students of the same skills/levels to discuss and learn
together.
Another
great point that not only the webcast talks about but we, as a class, has
discussed every week—give students enough opportunities and time to read and
write. This isn’t just advice that
is given frequently to teachers for the heck of it! I think it’s something that not only teachers but also
parents should focus on.
Personally, at the start of the semester I thought this was just common
sense—I mean who hasn’t heard the saying “practice makes perfect”? But I’ve come to realize that this is a
point that is easily forgotten.
Giving any student enough time to practice their reading and writing
will improve their skills and hopefully make them love it. Now giving students, especially ELL
students, this time both independently and in small groups will give them an
additional, if not more beneficial, activity for their learning. It gives them the opportunity to learn
and fully understand the reading strategies and then combine their new
knowledge and language skills to practice with a group discussion. Merging both reading and language
skills for ELL students will help them develop and improve their cognition and
language.
[For Jill: This webcast was definitely not a short video like the one I mistakenly
watched, but was a lot more useful and informational for teaching
practices. Sorry again for my
confusion last week!!]
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