Randomizing Groups: To ensure that students are always working with different combinations of their classmates (to avoid repetition) I like to randomize the groups. I have also combined some language practice with this process! To organize students into groups I will first announce how many groups we will have and how many students per group there will be. Then I tell my students that we will begin by counting from 1 until we reach the group's maximum size - 4 or 6 or 8 for example. This is of course done in the target language so that whenever there is group work the students are also practicing their numbers. This is less important at more advanced levels but provides an excellent practice opportunity for beginners. It also requires the students to pay attention as they will have to find their group partners after everyone has been assigned a number.
To further ensure random groups I always try to vary the group size from activity to activity. In other words I might use groups of 4 in one class session only to use groups of 8 in another. You can also add further randomness to the groupings by choosing which direction you will have the students count. For example you could start on one side of the classroom and then go up and down the rows. Or you could start at either the front or back and go across the rows.
- What other ways could be used to organize students into groups?
- Besides numbers, what other language component could be added when organizing groups?
- How do you use group work in your classes?
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