March 2024 Protocol of the month: Group Dynamics - A Technique

This technique was developed when my school hosted three-day teacher workshops. I also used it in my classes with great success and with just a little prep, it can save precious time and energy on the day needed.  The other benefit is that students feel a sense of confidence because they know where to go and what to do when the teacher calls for groups to form. Efficiency is the name of the game!  What do you do that makes grouping more efficient?  

GROUP DYNAMICS (Collaboration)

Description: Deliberate and intentional structured groupings created ahead of time will take the drudgery out of forming groups on the fly.  

​Application: Use in all subjects and class formats, including online classes. 

​Process: For the first week or two of class, observe students and look for things like traits, habits, and personalities.  Make mental notes of who would work well together in partnerships, trios, and groups of four.  Assign partnerships designated by numbers, trios by letter, and groups of four by city name. Create a sticker for each student that has their name and the unique code (Example: Jasmine Smith:  6-C-Omaha). Record the groupings in case a student loses the sticker.  Tell students to put the sticker in the front of their notebook for easy reference.  Show students the process by allowing them to meet their partners, trios, and groups of four. Begin by saying, “Find your matching number.”  Partnerships form (assign only two of each number).  Once students have met their partners, say, “Find your matching letters and trios form (assign only three students per letter), and say, “Find your matching city and groups of four forms (assign only four students per city).  Be ready for noise the first time as students search for their groups.  On class day when groups are needed, announce which code (number, letter, city) students use to find their group.  Refer back to the sticker if a student forgets.  Proceed with the activity once groups are formed.   Modify as necessary.

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