Small Group Instruction at Oneco 2017

This school year was met with more enthusiasm for the small group structures.  In analyzing the feedback provided from teachers, they very much appreciated the small group structure as well as the additional support during their 60 minute literacy block, but were concerned with the consistency of the staff members providing the small group instruction in their class.

We made some tweaks to the format as we became an L300 school in the 2016-2017 school year.  We were given, what we can only consider a gift, with an extended day.  Let's be honest, the students need as much time to learn as they can get and we need as much time to teach as we can, so there are absolutely no complaints coming from Oneco with this gift of time.  Logistically with coverage and scheduling, a lot of problem solving was required, but not with the time in and of itself.

We began the school year with additional support staff being placed in each classroom during the Extended Day/Power/Additional Literacy time.  This required a specific schedule, first of all, ensuring that adequate staff was provided for this push-in support.  Additionally, this required a shift in the mind set.  Our paras, who once ran the management of the campus, would share largely in the instruction of all students.  We worked to build the capacity of our support staff with the support of our instructional coach, our literacy teacher, as well as several district support personnel.  The idea that we had to be mindful of is that we had to ensure adequate time and ongoing training and support for these individuals if we were to keep building their capacity.

Our teachers and support staff have been incredible.  We began this year with fidelity to small group instruction.  The best part for me, is that teachers who were resistant to the idea of small group instruction in the beginning phases of this roll out, not fight for their small group time.  Once upon a time, they felt as though this model would be tough for their classroom management, they now rely on this structure.  Additionally, they are bringing small group instruction into other content areas.