The second-grade students at Lakewood Park Elementary are learning everything that they can by giving 100% effort, believing in themselves, and working collaboratively. Quality instruction often includes the gradual release method. Our instruction includes a “they do together” part of the plan that we feel is one of the most impactful sections of the lesson. Working with assigned or self-chosen partners or small peer groups gives students a chance to share ideas before presenting to a larger group, gain confidence with their own responses, and hear other students’ ideas and strategies for added clarification and understanding. We are sure to plan for collaborative pairing in almost every aspect of our instructional day including UFLI Foundations phonics, Benchmark Reading whole group and small group instruction, SAVVAS realize mathematics, and ACALETICS “Quick Piks” math lessons. Current topics where working with partners or small groups is most effective include time and money in mathematics and determining the central idea, relevant details, author’s purpose, and retelling/summarizing texts in English Language Arts. Our second graders are quickly becoming proficient and beyond, gaining confidence, and supporting each other every single day.
