In this post, I explain what to teach in small group instruction and offer you a FREE Small Group Weekly Planning Guide that will make planning and teaching your small group instruction less complicated.
I spend a lot of time talking to teachers about small group instruction. I listen to their concerns, their pain points, and their questions. One of the most frequent questions that I hear is, “What am I actually supposed to teach in small group instruction?”
Teachers may feel confident in using data to group their students, and may even know exactly which skill they want to focus on. But when it comes to planning the lesson and determining how they will spend the small group time, teachers often start to feel uncertain and overwhelmed.
There is a lot that goes into small-group instruction, so today I’m excited to share a simple shift we use inside Leaders of Literacy that lightens the small-group planning load. Then, I’ll leave you with a FREE Small Group Weekly Planning Guide that will tell you exactly what to teach your small groups each week!
Keep the Routines, Change the Skill
Here’s the thing…. Small group instruction is NOT about creating brand-new lessons for every group. It’s really about teaching different skills within the same instructional structure. Understanding this will change everything for you.
When the instructional routine stays the same, you’re not reinventing the wheel for every lesson. You’re not starting from scratch each week. You’re following the same consistent instructional routines for every group.
For example, inside Leaders of Literacy, every lesson begins with a phonemic awareness warm-up. One group may focus their warm-up on the short a sound, while another group focuses on phonemic awareness with r-blends. Then they both read decodable passages, but one group’s text focuses on short a, while the other reads a passage with r-blends.
What to Teach in Small Group Instruction
Across a typical week, Leaders of Literacy teach the following instructional routines:
Now I know you’re probably thinking…. That’s so much to teach!! How can I possibly fit it all in? Secret number 2: You don’t!
Don’t Teach Every Routine Every Day
We know your small group time is limited. Most of us have about 15-20 minutes with each group, and we know each instructional minute matters. We must use the time wisely.
Trying to teach all of those routines would take far too long and overwhelm both you and your students. So what do you do instead? You spread the routines throughout the week. You teach certain routines on certain days.
Over the course of the week, students experience all of high-impact instructional routines; they just don’t experience all of them in a single sitting.
When Do I Teach Each Routine?
Some routines show up daily, especially the ones that benefit from short, consistent practice like phonemic awareness. Others are built into the week a few times, and some are included just once.
When the week is planned this way, each lesson stays focused and manageable. Your instruction isn’t rushed, and students have the time they need to practice and master skills.
The shift is simple but powerful. It removes a lot of the pressure and gives you peace of mind knowing you’re working from a plan where the week is intentionally thought through.
Get a FREE Small Group Weekly Overview
If you want to see exactly how these routines fit into a full week, drop your email below, and we’ll send you our Small Group Weekly Overview! It is a quick guide that shows you exactly what small group instruction can look like when all the routines are in place.
A Simpler Way to Plan and Teach Your Small Groups
Your small group instruction doesn’t have to feel complicated or pieced together. With clear routines, aligned materials, and intentional, data-driven planning, it can become one of the most powerful parts of your day.
Leaders of Literacy puts pieces of small group instruction in place for you.
When you’re a Leader of Literacy, the plans are written, and the materials are ready. The instructional decisions have been made for you. Everything works together so you can provide targeted, differentiated instruction without having to start from scratch each week.
Become a Leader of Literacy and experience what it feels like to teach small groups with clarity and confidence.
