Hi there! I’m Allison.
I have a passion for helping early learning teachers implement small groups into their daily routine. I have spent the last 15 years refining my small group instruction within a kindergarten classroom, preschool classroom, and supporting preschool teachers as an instructional coach.
Through my experiences, I have learned how to manage, organize, teach and collect data, all while engaging little learners and fostering their independence through small groups. Small group time in my classroom packs a powerful dose of learning. And the best part is…your small groups can too!
I know what it is like to implement an efficient small group routine that engages students through hands-on activities, promotes student independence, and allows me to effortlessly monitor student progress.
I began my teaching career in a kindergarten classroom with 30 students and 1 assistant. Small group (A.K.A. reading workshop, daily five, centers) was my least favorite part of the day. It began with me demonstrating how to do each of the independent activities. By the time I explained the expectations for each small group, my students’ attention spans had expired. Then, the students were released to rotate through 15 minute teacher-led and independent activities. My students were off task, disruptive, and couldn’t remember what to do. I wasn’t able to teach my small group lesson because I was too busy managing behaviors. At the end of small group time, I felt drained, irritated and at a loss for how to make it better. I suffered through it for one whole year. I never wanted to experience that again, so I pinky promised myself that I would improve my small group management and instruction from that day on.
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Clip Art Credit: Krista Wallden, Creative Clips
