Tip of the Week: Manage your Space in Small Group

     Small group time is a key component of Crossroads Kids Club. During this time, caring adult leaders have the opportunity to really get to know the students at the club. Small group time can also prove to be a big distraction for many students. The reason is that there are several groups meeting simultaneously in one space (usually a gym, classroom or multi-purpose room). For some reason, what is happening in the other groups always seems more interesting to some students than the conversation in their own group. Furthermore, some students thrive on negative attention and will intentionally try to attract the attention of students in another group by waving, making faces, jumping up and down or whatever they can do.

     One of the most important ways a small group leader can minimize these distractions is by managing their physical space well. First, you want the students to be sitting close to you. This allows them to speak more quietly, which makes the overall volume of the room less. It also keeps them more focused on you and what you are communicating. One of the best ways to accomplish this closeness is to define the space by using an object on the floor. For example, in some gyms tumbling mats are available. In other cases, you might bring a picnic blanket or some carpet pieces. Any of these methods will help to define the space and clearly communicate where the children should be sitting—close to you. Second, you want the children to face you and not the other groups. A great way to accomplish this is to sit with your back to a corner of the room. Then when the children are facing you, they see two walls as a backdrop instead of other small groups.

Keep your students' attention by managing your space well.