< back to welcome page 1 Recruitment 2 Eligibility 3 Selection 4 Enrollment 5 Receiving (or Providing) Services

5.1Screening & Compliance Requirements

5.2Center/Classroom Startup Planning

5.3Classroom Engagement

5.4Ongoing Assessment

5.5Family Engagement

5.6Weekly Home Visits

5.7Home-based Socials

5.8Overview of State Programs

5.9Reporting

5.10Prenatal Services

5.11School Readiness Goals

5.12Internal Monitoring

5.13Food Service

6 Transition 7 Admin/Operations 8 ChildPlus 9 Learning Paths

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