Interesting+Grouping

Strategy Name**: **Interest ** ing Grouping
 * [[image:groupofpeople.jpg]]


 * Strategy Description**: This strategy uses a survey to create collaborative reading groups.


 * Description/Name of the class in which you used the strategy**: First Grade Reading


 * Rationale**: Students' interests provide an entirely different type of motivation. Their ability also increases, as their interest and background knowledge is elevated. Creating collaborative reading groups based on their interests will allow my students to use their strengths and insight to attack content area texts, without restricting them to only read books that are at "their level".


 * Procedure**: Create a student interest survey for your students to complete at home or in the classroom. (I have some online examples in the resources and printed off in binder, also check Reader's Survey for reader surveys.) Use their answers to choose groups for content area guided reading. Choose a level of book that is adaptable to each student in that group, or choose many books that are on the group's interest topic, but at varied levels to accommodate for the varied abilities of the students.


 * Diverse Learners:** This type of grouping attends to each and every student, so all learner's interests and needs are met on some level.


 * Potential Issues:**
 * Be sure students fill out the survey's individually or at home, so as not to bias their answers towards what their friends are choosing.
 * Make sure the students in each group are properly assessed on their background knowledge before diving into the books. While they may be interested in whales, they may not know anything about them. Prepare them properly to attack the text. (Clozed Content Lesson will help them to prepare!)

http://www.ehow.com/how_2058230_implement-student-interest-survey.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp& utm_campaign=yssp_art
 * Implementation Suggestions:**
 * Have students fill this out in the beginning of the year, but also leave it available for changes, or reissue the survey throughout the year. Their interests may change!
 * Try to have your survey questions as open-ended as possible!
 * Be creative with how you group the students. They may not all like the same things, but books can always "hit two bird with one stone!"
 * Be sure to accommodate for your students' reading abilities when creating the survey.
 * Check out surveying tips at:


 * Resources:**
 * Wormeli, R. //Student Interest Survey.// Retrieved April 25, 2009, from []
 * //08-09 Student Survey//. Retrieved April 25, 2009, from []