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Every teacher has their own preferred style and method when it comes to teaching in their own classroom, and while some prefer teaching in groups, others may favor a more individualized approach. The reality is that with growing class sizes and an increased need for differentiation, both of these methods will most likely need to be used while teaching in the conventional classroom. Teachers who are comfortable and familiar teaching in group settings, as well as in one-on-one situations, will be better equipped to meet the needs of every student in their class. They will also be more prepared if they decide to pursue teaching on an online platform with a one-student-per-class method. During the first lesson, the teacher has a chance to assess the situation in the classroom. It is during this time that the teacher can evaluate the needs of individual students as well as the needs of the class as a whole based on the ages, ability levels, and behaviors of the pupils. While it may seem that the best course of action is to immediately start working with individual students to meet their specific needs, there simply is not enough time for this in the real-world classroom. With so many things to get through and so little time, time management is of the utmost importance. For this reason, it is important to split time between whole-group teaching, small groups, and finally attention to individual needs. For example, when starting a new lesson and teaching the basics, the whole class may be addressed as a group. Then, during an individual activity, the teacher may observe the students at work, spend time with individuals who require assistance, and collect data to determine the different skill levels of the class. This data can then be used to create diverse groups that can help each other during small group activities or similar-leveled groups that can work with the teacher during group tutoring sessions. This approach can be very useful in collecting data for the teacher, and avoiding the monotony of constant whole-group lessons for the students. Some teachers may feel intimidated by the thought of teaching one-on-one for an extended period of time because of the pressure to provide as much challenging, diverse, fun, and exciting learning to a single student as they would get in the conventional classroom. A class full of students with many opportunities for group work, projects, and student interaction can be difficult to replicate in a one-on-one setting, but through building rapport and learning about a students’ needs, it is very possible for a teacher to create an interesting lesson for a single student. One might even argue that one-on-one lessons can have a more profound impact on student growth. By getting to know a student and having a designated amount of time to cater to their needs specifically, insecurities and questions can be immediately addressed and resolved. While there are pros and cons to both one-on-one and group teaching, it is important that a teacher is familiar with both of these methods. By grouping students, a teacher can manage time effectively and create a stimulating classroom environment that allows for class interaction. By teaching one-on-one, a teacher can get to know individual students at a deeper level and obtain a better understanding of their interests and educational needs, allowing for a more precise and tailored lesson. Some teaching jobs may call for exclusively one method or the other, but the majority of classroom situations will require a balanced blend of the two.
