Best Practice

The pros and cons of small group teaching

There are both pros and cons to teaching small groups or classes. Archie McGlynn looks at the key questions teachers (and schools) should ask when considering this approach

Following a recent review of lessons featuring class and group sizes well below the school’s average, I was invited to draft some ideas to support a teacher workshop on the topic.

My thoughts outlined below are just a beginning – perhaps for an INSET CPD session – to get teachers thinking about how to become a “good” teacher of classes of small size to promote quality learning. I also list some key questions to consider and my own view of the pros and cons of teaching small groups.

In introducing this topic with teachers, I allocate them to one of the four topics listed below, inviting teachers to work in pairs or small groups (no more than four to a group) and challenge them to discuss and write up in poster style:

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