5.3.17
Small Group Time
Small Group Time enables Teachers to:
- Introduce a new concept or new materials
- Teach a specific skill
- Encourage conversation and the sharing of ideas
- Extend children’s thinking by asking questions and posing new challenges
- Focus observation on individual children and document what they know and can do
Small Group time:
- Includes between 4-8 children
- Occurs 1-2 times per day
- Lasts 10-15 minutes – length may vary based on the activity and the children’s level of interest
- Preschool only – No guidelines for small group time for infants/toddlers
Examples:
- Explore an open-ended material, such as leaves, shells or buttons
- Read rhyming books to promote phonological awareness
References
- Creative Curriculum for Preschool – Volume 1: Foundations
- See Small Groups – Pages 75-76
- The Creative Curriculum for Preschool Intentional Teaching Cards that complement the Teaching Guides – give direction for meaningful, engaging small group activities
- See Daily Schedule – pages 81-88
- Supporting Learning through small and large groups – pages 172-178
- ECERS and All About ECERs book
- See Item 36: Group Time