Small Group Plans & Data Tracking

The task of organizing small groups & tracking data can be daunting. Its something I still have not perfected. I wanted to show one tool I use to keep myself on track throughout the year in first grade. I teach ELAR/SS only. So I have about ten groups to keep track of throughout the year. 

This is the small group plan/data tracker that I made a few years back. I have had these in my shop for awhile but wanted to share how I use it for small groups. 

I first select the group of kiddos I want to have in each group and record their names under the "group  members" section. I also number them 1-6 within each group, so I know which child has which reader. Each of small group book sets is also numbered 1-6. 

I then record the group's goals/targets/focus areas across the top. I choose anywhere between 1 and 3 goals per group. I write the standard number next to a very short description of the standard. So this groups goals are to work on identifying new vocabulary within texts on their independent level & reading fluently on their instructional level.  

. When I call each group during station time, I quickly jot the date, the standard number (from above) and the intervention/game/activity we will be using during our session in this area. So while I do write "small group lesson plans" I fit the entire week and each group on one sheet, its very short and simple. Which book, level, and focus that group will work on for the week. I am able to expand on those short short plans by recording in more detail for each group on this sheet. 

I write notes to my self in the middle, these are just made up notes & name to show you what it looks like after I have met with a group a few times!

I have this small assessment box on each day's row. I started out without anything of the sort, but quickly realized after meeting for ARDs, PSTs, SITS, you name it that I needed a little something each time I met with a group. The main reason was because of absences. I would meet with a group 4 times in a week, and wonder why isn't "Matthew Z." making any progress!? We met four times this week, only to realized he wasn't at school for one reason or another 3 our the 4 times we met! AHHH. So now I just mark an "A" next to students names when they are not at school when I meet with their group. Partly for me, so I can make time to reteach, but also for documentation purposes for all those meetings! 

Once I have met with a group several times for the same skill, in this case, 1.6 vocabulary. I look back at the assessment section to see their progress, if a student has three or more + for one skill, I write mastered and the date next to their name under the skill at the top. I may keep that student in this group but reading a higher level, move to another group, let leave the group table early, it just depends on what the student NEEDS at the time. 

This is what it looks like after a few sessions have been completed!

 I also have blank pages of just the daily log so I can meet with the same kids on the same skills more than three times. I use these sheets as documentation of intervention and enrichment for students, if I need them in a meeting or to turn in, I simply make a copy and use a thick black sharpie to mark out any names other than the student we are meeting on. 

Click any picture to check out the lesson plan/data tracker template in my TpT shop!