Small Group Communication in the Elementary Classroom
             The definition of a small group is a group having at least three and no more than fifteen members ( Borchers). At least three members are necessary to keep the group from being a dyad and a maximum of fifteen members is important to avoid inhibition of the group members' ability to freely communicate with fellow group members (Borchers). It is necessary for the group to have a common purpose or goal in order to bring the group together and help the group to avoid conflict and tension( Borchers).
             Small group communication is an important part of everyday life. We are all involved in some type of small group in some way. Often the first exposure we have to working and communicating in a small group is in an elementary classroom where communication is vital. This type of communication greatly effects children and will continue to do so throughout their lives.
             Small groups are important for young children because it will affect them socially and academically. Having had an opportunity to work in a kindergarten classroom for an entire year, an average of ten hours a week, I was able to witness the results of small group communication. We used small groups in many different ways. The classroom activities were based on a "center" rotation, meaning that there were five "centers" that the children would rotate in. This was a great way for the children to learn how to share their supplies and get along with each other. They learned to "use their words" to communicate with each other. One of the children, Steven, had a lot of trouble with the concept of group work. At the beginning of the year he would come up to me at least once a day, crying, that one of the other children had decided not to be his friend anymore. I would take him over to his group and ask the other children why they were mad at Steven. Their reply was always somet
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