Group Work - Work Stations
by Louise
(FNQ)
I have lovely big hexagon desks in my year 1 classroom allowing for up to 6 children to sit comfortably around, each with plenty of individual space. I have a spare one in a different colour for me to teach a group.
Each desk is multi-ability grouped with a child in a leadership position and another as a back up leader.
During work time they support each other. The conversations are lovely to listen to!
I then draw from these groups to do my guided reading sessions, therefore never leaving a group of struggling children to work on their own.
Last week I began drawing children for needs based writing workshops.
After 18 years of teaching I no longer do rotations, preferring to "rotate" a few more involved tasks over the week which allows the children to settle into an activity, give me plenty of time for an uninterrupted session with a small group, followed by some time for all to conclude, pack-up and share.
All the children stay on-task because the activities are well known and there is always someone who can "help". The children all know that they will have their turn with me for both reading and now writing. My timetable is available for them to check.
I constantly change the focus groups according to what needs to be taught but the hexagon desks stay the same.
I saw this idea working only last year and decided to give it a go and I find it is a fabulous way to work a class.
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