Preparing for, and running small groups is something I am continuing to improve.  They are ever changing, constantly rescheduled, and I’m always trying to find a way to improve them.  I’m found a few things I do help them to be successful:

1.  Planning ahead (I always strive for it)
2.  Making a “plan” and writing it on my whiteboard for students
3.  Check-ins

I start every single group with a “check-in”.  It’s something my kids have come to expect, and some of them will even fire off their number when they walk in!  If I need the number for data, or when I’m starting to teach this skill, I use a paper form, but after a while, a poster visual is all my kiddos need.

It’s super simple to use:  Ask your students to think for a minute and circle (or just keep in their mind) how their day is going so far.  Give them a minute.  Go around in a circle and have them say which number they picked and why.  The why is really the most important part.  It’s how I find out things that are going on at the playground, at home, or at school, that my students otherwise might not mention when I ask them “How’s it going?”

You can click on the image above, or visit my TpT store for this download.

What do you find effective for check-ins?