March 26, 2010
Do you ever ask yourself this question? We've recently had the pleasure of working with Rachel, a teacher in Portland, Oregon who asked herself this very question in regards to her small fourth grade guided reading group work. Rachel was reflecting on her instruction during literacy and feeling that her small groups seemed a bit contrived and not as effective as she wished.
As educators, we often fall into the pattern of working with our students in ways we think are expected of us, or that everyone else seems to be doing, or even ways in which we were taught. Rachel decided to try something new and discovered that her time was actually better spent engaged in one-on-one conferences. She was able to plan for individual instruction and provide the just in time coaching each of her students most needed.
Have you found yourself asking a similar question? If you have, don't be afraid to think first about your students and their needs rather than the way you perceive things should be done. It just may lead you to wonderful and more effective instruction for your children.