Author: Deb Avery | Published on 2 January 2024
Question: Can grouping your learners in different ways for different activities help them learn more effectively?
Answer: Yes! Working with different learners helps develop communication and collaboration skills.
You can divide classes in different ways. For example:
- randomly
- by letting them choose
- with you deciding the groups
Ways in which you can make groups include:
- Assigning learners numbers, then saying all ‘1’s form a group, ‘2s’, ‘3s’ etc.
- Give learners half of a phrase, idiom or sentence. They form pairs with their ‘other halves’.
- Distribute words and their opposites / synonyms – learners find their partner.
- Group according to same levels of experience.
- Group less experienced learners with those more experienced.
You should vary your groups for different types of activities.
What strategies will you try?