Making the Most of Small Groups: Differentiation for All (Paperback)

by Debbie Diller (Author)
Key Phrases: listening work station, final sound isolation, funky chunks, Making the Most of Small Groups, Stenhouse Publishers, Debbie Diller (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In her previous books, Literacy Work Stations and Practice with Purpose, Debbie Diller showed teachers how to productively occupy the “rest of the class” while meeting with small groups. Now Debbie turns her attention to the groups themselves and the teacher's role in small-group instruction. Making the Most of Small Groups grapples with difficult questions regarding small-group instruction in elementary classrooms such as:

• How do I find the time?
• How can I be more organized?
• How do I form groups?
• How can I differentiate to meet the needs of all of my students?

Structured around the five essential reading elements—comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary—the book provides practical tips, sample lessons, lesson plans and templates, suggestions for related literacy work stations, and connections to whole-group instruction. In addition to ideas to use immediately in the classroom, Debbie provides an overview of relevant research and reflection questions for professional conversations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Stenhouse Publishers (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571104313
• ISBN-13: 978-1571104311
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,744 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Philosophy & Social Aspects
  #3 in	Books > Nonfiction > Education > Education Theory > Contemporary Methods > Language Experience Approach
  #12 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Education > Professional Development

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book, July 17, 2007

By	Today Show Book Fan (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This book will definitely be a productive resource used over and over again to help me decide what each of my reading groups will be doing each week. The book gives charts for the different areas of teaching reading and what type of activities to do to strengthen these areas. This will be a huge organizational help to me and time saver on a weekly basis, k teacher

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable guide for reading teachers of young students everywhere., September 2, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Educator Debbie Diller reveals her thirty years of experience as an educator, including classroom teaching of children in grades PreK-10 as well as teaching in small groups and independent work, in Making the Most of Small Groups: Differentiation for All, a practical guide to the teacher's role in small-group instruction. An in-depth resource packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, Making the Most of Small Groups particularly focuses upon instructing small groups in the five essential reading elements: comprehension, fluency, phonemic awareness, phonics, and vocabulary. Packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for organizing one's time and space as well as the nuts and bolts of teaching, and rounded out with black-and-white photographs, sample lesson plans, reflection questions for professional conversations, references, and much more, Making the Most of Small Groups is an invaluable guide for reading teachers of young students everywhere.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a relief!, July 12, 2007

By	Mary A. Hogan (Savannah, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At last a book that shows you exactly how small groups should work! I love the section on using a small group planning notebook. I will definately use this book in my classroom in the fall.