“OK, class … let’s get into groups.”

How does everyone react?

Some students might groan. They’ve done dreadful group work before. When the work doesn’t require collaboration, the group seems kind of unnecessary.

Some students might cheer. When group work is poorly organized, it’s their opportunity to socialize with their friends — or just not do any thinking at all.

And the teacher? Well, you might be conflicted … especially if you see the potential for more but just haven’t gotten there yet.

Group work can be powerful. But certain parts have to be in place or it’s likely to flop. 

So … how do you get it right?

What if you had some help? Grouper (grouper.school) is a free app that helps you create student groups — and keep them on track — during small-group learning. 

• Import your roster

• Create groups of any size with one click

• Arrange by attributes (like proficiency, gender, etc.)

• Reshuffle groups as often as you need

We’ve seen classroom AI tools create lesson plans and worksheets. But in this case, the AI is helping you form meaningful student groups. After you have Grouper set up, it’ll be a tool you’ll use regularly — and complete your grouping tasks in 30 seconds or less.

Here are 10 strategies to make group work a positive and productive experience for all your students

1. Start Small and Simple

Don’t jump into complex projects immediately. Consider starting with low-stakes activities, like quick brainstorming, a jigsaw activity or a team-building activity. Spend time building a positive collaborative atmosphere. Develop those essential group work skills: communication, active listening, compromise, and problem-solving. Your students will depend on them in their work together.

💡 Set up your groups in 60 seconds with Grouper

Grouper allows you to instantly generate random groups of any size.  Groupings can be randomized, customized, or based on student attributes. They can be used immediately for whatever task you’d like your students to engage in or saved for later. 

Watch this video or follow the steps below to get started:

• Sign up with Clever, Google, or email.

• Automatically import classes from Clever/Google Classroom or manually add a class.

• Add students by copying and pasting from a document or spreadsheet.

2. Explain the “Why”

Don’t just assign group work; explain its purpose. Students are more likely to engage if they understand the benefits. 

And as the teacher, if you haven’t considered it, ask yourself … how does group work, in the context of your current lesson, contribute to:

Clearly articulate the learning goals for each group activity. What knowledge or skills should students gain? A clear understanding of the “why” provides direction and purpose.

3. Establish Expectations

Clear expectations are crucial, and they can start at the very beginning of the school year. Before the first group activity, facilitate a class discussion. Ask students to …

• describe what effective group work looks like

• describe experiences when group work was actually good

• outline what they like and don’t like. 

Create a class poster outlining expectations for participation, respect, and responsibility. (But even if you missed this on the first day of school, any time is a good time to establish expectations.)

When assigning activities provide step-by-step instructions for tasks, including deadlines and milestones. Clearly define individual roles and responsibilities within each group. (More on this later.) Transparency in assessment criteria or expectations ensures students understand how their individual and group contributions will be evaluated.

4. Model Good Group Work

Show students what effective collaboration looks like. Demonstrate with a student. Show a video example. Or just go back over your classroom expectations. Explicitly teach skills like active listening,
respectful communication, and conflict resolution. Don’t assume students possess these skills; provide explicit instruction and practice opportunities.

💡 Use Grouper to Keep Certain Students Away from Other Students

5. Consider Learning Goals When Forming Groups

Consider the benefits of heterogeneous (groups with differences) versus homogenous groups (groups with similarities). 

Want to be more intentional? Use a mix of abilities, learning preferences, and backgrounds in your group selections. 

Sometimes random groups work best; other times, you might group by ability or interest. Be mindful of group dynamics. If a group struggles, intervene and offer support or adjust the composition. 

💡 Create Data-Driven Groups with Grouper

Grouper lets you form groups based on classroom data that’s important to you. Watch this video to learn how to pull in student data from a variety of sources. This way, you don’t have to guess where students are in those assessments or try to remember on the fly. Use data like …

• diagnostic quizzes to help pinpoint where students are

• a weekly quiz

• yearly testing data

• a student interest survey

• demographic data from your student information system (SIS)

Use any sort of file: spreadsheets, PDFs, even screenshot images. Grouper can even use a picture of student data on a sheet of paper!

When you create groups with data that matters to you, the teacher, then you’re in control! You’re able to make more intentional groups that make sense to you and your students.

6. Vary Group Work

Doing the same activities over and over again gets students in a rut. (It gets you in a rut, too!) Mix up your group activities whenever possible. It’ll keep students engaged and help develop a range of collaborative skills. Think of real-world issues or problems – or even connections to the things that students love – to increase student interest and motivation. 

7. Assign Defined Roles When Appropriate

Assigning roles (note-taker, spokesperson, timekeeper) helps students stay organized and contribute effectively. Clearly define each role and rotate them periodically to allow students to experience different responsibilities and develop a variety of skills. Clearly communicate expectations for each role and provide support and guidance as needed. Group work job cards can be a helpful visual aid.

💡 Use Grouper to Create Groups by Attribute

Use Grouper’s attributes function to quickly and easily make groups. Make smarter groupings with student attributes. Automatically create groups based on what your students have in common… or what makes them unique, creating opportunities for each student to showcase their strengths in the group.

8. Monitor and Facilitate

Don’t disappear while students work. Circulate. Listen in. Offer guidance. Ask probing questions to encourage deeper thinking and help resolve conflicts. (Plus, aren’t you curious about how they’ll solve problems and work together? It’s kind of like a reality TV show right in front of your eyes.) Plus, your oversight of their group work will give you valuable insight and data to help you know what to do next in instruction.

9. Debrief and Provide Feedback

After the group work, take time for a class debrief. Discuss what went well, what could be improved, and what students learned about collaboration. Encourage individual reflection on contributions and areas for growth.

Offer feedback on both the group’s product and their process. Acknowledge effort and highlight specific examples of good collaboration. Encourage self and peer assessment to promote reflection and continuous improvement.

10. Keep groups flexible

When grouping students by level, make sure to re-form the groups when you get new data. Guided reading, writing or math groups are a great example of this. As students are assessed, re-form the groups based on the results. Grouper makes this easy with their import tool. You can pull in data from something as simple as a weekly quiz to form new groups.

How Can You Use Student Small Groups More Effectively?

Small groups add a new dimension to student learning. It brings in social, collaborative work that mirrors the job environments that many students will have in adulthood. It gives them practice with working alongside and getting along with others. 

Group work doesn’t have to be drudgery, and with a little help, you can create meaningful groups in a matter of seconds.

Use Grouper to Form Student Groups Effortlessly

Pull your rosters into Grouper (grouper.school). Import some data and add some attributes and info about your students that matters. Then use all of that data on the fly to create – and re-create – student groups in a flash. It’s so simple and fast that it’ll become a regular part of your day-to-day teaching that works, freeing you up to get back to the art of teaching.