BCPS Lighthouse Schools
  • Home
  • Schools
  • Reflections
  • Journeys
  • Learning
    • Learner-Centered Environments
    • Nights of Innovation
    • Summer Institutes
  • Press
  • #BCPSLH

Small Groups Have a Big Impact

1/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Submitted by Jeremy Miller
​4th Grade Teacher, Church Lane Elementary 
Picture
Picture
When I first came to Church Lane, we were in our first year of being a Lighthouse School.  I did not know what to expect. Would devices really make learning more meaningful?  Would classrooms filled with bean bags, unconventional seating, and student first décor really make an impact on the students’ education? Would providing student choice on almost everything make them more engaged on a daily basis?  Would differentiated grouping and tasks be possible and effective? When I first began, I wasn’t so sure.  However, after almost a year and a half, I can easily say the answer to all those questions is YES!

What I have come to learn is that S.T.A.T is much more than just 1:1.  It is a mindset.  A mindset in which teacher and student learn as they go.  There are an infinite number of resources, websites, project ideas, etc. available to teachers.  I was overwhelmed at first.  I did not know where to start.  I have come to learn that focusing on implementing one thing at a time is much less of a burden.  After some time, I am now familiar with numerous tools, not all technology related, that have made my classroom environment a wonderful one.

Differentiated small groups were new to me as well.  Ones that are constantly changing, sometimes within one class period, seemed like it would make my head spin.  My clipboard was filled with post-it notes of student names circled, crossed out, and arrows going in every direction.  This directly correlates to the S.T.A.T mindset mentioned above.  I had to learn as I went.  Eventually, it started to become easier.  I learned how to create groups.  Students learned how to transition between groups.  The students and I were aware that groups would be different depending on the day and topic.  Once this became routine, it became possible to REALLY differentiate work for my small groups.  Students started to become more engaged in their work because it was tailored to their needs.  Their choice of how to show their learning started to snowball into ways that I didn’t even know was possible. 

“Instead of a Wixie, can I create a Board Builder?”

“After I make my Board Builder, can I add my own voice to describe what is included?”
The list goes on.  My greatest challenge, implementing these small groups was that I wanted to be in control of everything.  I have learned to take the back seat and let the students drive.  When they drive, we all learn. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Reflections from teachers, administrators, and students at the Lighthouse Schools.

    Categories

    All
    Administrator
    Art
    Community Engagement
    Counselor
    Digital Citizenship
    Digital Tools
    Flipped Learning
    Language Arts
    Learner Centered Environment
    Maker Learning
    Math
    Music
    Personalized Learning
    Physical Education
    Professional Development
    Project Based Learning
    Real World Connections
    Research Skills
    Science
    Small Group Instruction
    Social Studies
    Student
    Teacher
    Technology

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

Team BCPS Logo

© 2015 Baltimore County Public Schools. All rights reserved. 

Proudly powered by Weebly