Levelling Up Learning: Tailoring Instruction for Every Student Through Google Classroom Groups

Google Groups are available for Education Plus and Teaching & Learning Upgrade users.

Our goal as educators is to help every student feel successful and engaged in their learning, no matter their ability. However, providing individualised instruction to all students in a traditional classroom can be challenging. By organising students into groups in Google Classroom, based on their needs and abilities, we can empower each child to reach their full potential.

In your classroom, you can tailor assignments and resources to meet the needs of each student by creating smaller, focused groups. Those groups can be mirrored in Google Classroom. The Google Classroom Groups feature allows teachers to differentiate instruction easily and effectively. In addition to enhancing student engagement, this approach also fosters a sense of belonging and accomplishment. Each student will appear to be doing the same assignment, but it will actually be tailored to their exact need or skill level.

Consider my fifth-grade class, where students are tasked with writing essays. While some students may be ready for complex persuasive essays, others may still be struggling with basic sentence structure. The advanced writers in my class would be challenged with the instructions to write a full persuasive essay, which will require them to develop strong arguments, use evidence effectively, and consider counterarguments. My proficient writers would focus on writing persuasive essays, practising descriptive language and structure. Finally, my emerging writers could start with simpler tasks, such as writing short paragraphs, focusing on sentence structure and grammar. By differentiating the assignment in this way, I can ensure that every student is working at their appropriate level and experiencing success. Students have access to all the appropriate resources in Google Classroom based on their level.

Google Classroom Groups can also be a valuable tool for supporting multilingual learners. By creating smaller groups based on language proficiency, teachers can provide targeted language support, such as sharing articles, videos, or classroom materials that support their level of language acquisition. You can also post materials in the students' native languages. These strategies can help multilingual learners feel more comfortable and confident in the classroom, leading to improved academic outcomes.

It is simple to create a student group in Google Classroom.

1. First select the ‘People’ tab within a class in Google Classroom. 

2. At the top right, click ‘Create Group’. 

3. Then enter a name for your group in the pop-up window. 

4. Next, select the students you want to include in your group by checking the box next to each student's name. 

5. After you select your members, click ‘Create’ to finalise your group.

When creating an assignment in Google Classroom: 

1. Click the button that lists the number of students and groups next to “Assign To.” 

2. To find the list of available groups, click the ‘Groups’ tab. 

3. Then check the box next to the group you want to assign the assignment to rather than finding each individual student.

By differentiating instruction through Google Classroom Groups, teachers can significantly increase student engagement and set the stage for future academic success. When students receive tasks that are appropriately challenging, they are more likely to feel motivated and invested in their learning. This increased engagement leads to deeper understanding and a stronger foundation of knowledge. Furthermore, differentiated instruction allows students to progress at their own pace, preventing frustration and ensuring that they are always working on tasks that are meaningful and relevant to their individual needs. As students develop confidence and mastery in their current grade level, they are better prepared to tackle more complex concepts and challenges in future years.