Aligning Practice with Research - Using Small Groups to Differentiate Instruction - Topic Paper

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

A research report examining how small-group instruction supports differentiation in elementary literacy classrooms and what evidence says about its learning impact. It defines small-group differentiated literacy instruction, reviews research on effective components, and analyzes practical decisions teachers face, including using assessment data, grouping students, updating groups, adjusting instructional content and intensity, and establishing classroom structures and routines. It also discusses administrator support for implementation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

What Is Small-Group Differentiated Literacy Instruction?

Research on Small-Group Differentiated Literacy Instruction

Small-Group Differentiated Literacy Instruction in Practice

Using Assessment to Guide Instruction

Grouping Students to Differentiate Instruction

Homogeneous Groups

Heterogeneous Groups

Updating Groups Regularly

How Often Should Groups Be Changed?

Differentiation of Lesson Content

Providing Scaffolding and Feedback

Teacher Feedback

Teacher Scaffolding

Thinking Through Small-Group Structures and Routines

How Can Administrators Support Small-Group Differentiated Instruction?

Conclusion

References

TOPIC PAPER JULY 2024 Aligning Practice with Research: Using Small Groups to Differentiate Instruction By Sarah W. Siegal, Colby Hall, & Michael P. Mesa CONTACT This research report was prepared by Sarah W. Siegal, Colby Hall, and Michael P. Mesa. For more information about this topic paper, please contact Scholastic Research & Validation at [ScholasticRV@scholastic.com](ScholasticRV@scholastic.com) or visit [scholastic.com/research](scholastic.com/research). SUGGESTED CITATION Scholastic Research & Validation. (2024) . Aligning Practice with Research: Using Small Groups to Differentiate Instruction. Sarah W. Siegal, Colby Hall, & Michael P. Mesa. New York: Scholastic. TM, ® & © 2024 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. TOPIC PAPER JUNE 2024 Aligning Practice with Research: Using Small Groups to Differentiate Instruction By Sarah W. Siegal, Colby Hall, & Michael P. Mesa TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 1 WHAT IS SMALL-GROUP DIFFERENTIATED LITERACY INSTRUCTION? 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 2 RESEARCH ON SMALL-GROUP DIFFERENTIATED LITERACY INSTRUCTION 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 4 Components of Small-Group Instruction 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 5 SMALL-GROUP DIFFERENTIATED LITERACY INSTRUCTION IN PRACTICE 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 8 Using Assessment to Guide Instruction 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 8 Grouping Students to Differentiate Instruction 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 12 Homogeneous Groups 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 13 Heterogeneous Groups 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 13 Updating Groups Regularly 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 14 How Often Should Groups Be Changed? 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 15 Differentiation of Lesson Content 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 16 Providing Scaffolding and Feedback 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 23 Teacher Feedback 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 23 Teacher Scaffolding 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 23 Thinking Through Small-Group Structures and Routines 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 24 How Can Administrators Support Small-Group Differentiated Instruction? 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 26 CONCLUSION 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 28 REFERENCES 􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮􀀮 30 INTRODUCTION Small-group instruction is ubiquitous in today’s elementary school classrooms. In a recent survey completed by elementary teachers across the United States (n = 101

FAQs

What problem does the paper address about small groups and differentiation?

It investigates whether using small groups to differentiate instruction is supported by research and how small-group approaches translate into student learning benefits in literacy settings.

How should assessment data be used to guide small-group instruction?

The report focuses on using assessment to inform instructional decisions for small groups, aligning group work with students’ needs and learning targets.

What teacher practices are emphasized for effective small-group literacy instruction?

It highlights structuring routines, grouping students appropriately, updating groups regularly, differentiating lesson content, and providing scaffolding and feedback to support progress.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai