Research to Practice: Promoting Academic and Social Behaviors in a Small Group

Teachers are responsible for providing opportunities for children to learn, succeed, and grow academically and socially. Small group instruction is one effective option for encouraging academic and social skills in young children. Young children often display difficulties sitting and listening to a teacher or waiting for peers to take a turn, but these behaviors are often highly valued by kindergarten teachers. Small group instruction prepares children for elementary school and later grades, specifically by teaching children how to learn. This article discusses targeting academic and social skills during small group instruction using sight words, response prompts, and a data sheet.