Posts Tagged: Small-Group Instruction in Mathematics

Pre-Asssessing, Gathering Information, Making Waves!

“Why go into something to test the waters ? Go into it to make waves.” Pre-Assessment and On-Going Assessment are some of the Essential Elements of the Tabor Rotation Framework. They’re also foundational components in a differentiated classroom. Whether you’re sophisticating your methods for assessing your students or just beginning to use on-going assessments, they’re a great place to begin a journey differentiating instruction in a classroom.…

A Tasty Serving of Small-Group Instruction

“For some reason, when you become a support to others, you become bigger than you are.” -Susan Jeffers, from “Feel the Fear…and Do It Anyway” This morning was spent filming parts of the new Tabor Rotation DVD Training Series. My cinematographer, Chris Shepherd [http://www.christophershepherd.net/], is amazingly creative and dedicated to making this an incredibly informative AND entertaining film.…

Bottoms Flat or Bottoms Up?

Why can’t students just learn the same way all of us did in school? We sat. The teacher talked and wrote on the board. We solved problems. We came back and did it again the next day. We all did just fine. Why can’t we do what we’ve always done?…

Math is Supposed to be FUN!

This week I traveled east on TX Highway 150 to the small town of Coldspring, Texas. Although the downtown shops and restaurants looked quaint and inviting, I drove straight past them to one of the best parts of Coldspring–its students. I had the honor of working with a fifth grade class from Coldspring Intermediate.…

Forming Small Groups in Math

“How many students should be in a group?” The PGCPS website [http://www.pgcps.org/~elc/learning1.html] gives this simple and easy to understand description for small groups: Size The smallest group is two. The largest recommended is six. Generally, in smaller groups each member participates more, fewer social skills are required, and groups can work more quickly.…

The More, The Merrier: Resource Teachers

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” -Anne Frank “How can I use the Tabor Rotation Framework if I’m a resource teacher and we only have pull out for 30 minutes per group of students?” Many schools choose to “push in” rather than “pull out” when they provide resource services to their students.…

More Exit Questions, Please!

“A prudent question is one-half of wisdom.” -Francis Bacon “Talent alone won’t make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is: “Are your ready?” -Johnny Carson During follow-up conferencing this week I was asked a wonderful question.…

A GREAT Game!

“What is the most useful game you’ve ever played with your students?” If I had $20 to spend on games, the commercial game I would select is the card game called the 24 Game. [www.24game.com] Created in 1988 by Robert Sun, it has engaged and fascinated every student I’ve ever had.…

Managing Small Groups in a Secondary Classroom

“The conventional definition of management is getting work done through people, but real management is developing people through work.” -Agha Hasan Abedi “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.” -Peter F. Drucker “As we get ready to implement these groups do you think it’s necessary to take a few days and talk about the norms or rules of behavior that are expected?”…

How to Begin Using Small Groups in Math

“I want to begin using small groups in math and like the Tabor Rotation Framework. How do I “dip in my big toe?” 1. Divide your class into 4 heterogeneously mixed groups. *The groups should not be the same as any other group which occurs in your room.…