Academic standards call for increased rigor, but simply raising complexity is not enough. Students need to be able to interact productively within a small-group setting. As teachers become better at planning and providing practice sessions that build these skills, students become more adept at participating in structured grouping, peer response groups, paired practice, partner discussions, and reflecting on learning as part of a group.

Organizing for Learning: Classroom Techniques to Help Students Interact Within Small Groups explores explicit techniques for mastering this crucial strategy of instructional practice. It includes: . Explicit steps for implementation . Recommendations for monitoring students' ability to organize for learning . Adaptations for students who struggle, have special needs, or excel in learning . Examples and nonexamples from classroom practice . Common mistakes and ways to avoid them

The Essentials for Achieving Rigor series of instructional guides helps educators become highly skilled at implementing, monitoring, and adapting instruction. Put it to practical use immediately, adopting day-to-day examples as models for application in your own classroom.