The focus of instruction during small-group literacy instruction should be reading and writing development. At the preschool level, reading instruction focuses on letter identification and letter-sound recognition. Children may sort through letters and place them in alphabetical order, or arrange matching letters into matching piles. They may sort items based on the letters they begin with or create or decorate pictures of items that begin with specific sounds. For writing instruction during small-group time, you may present children with letter-tracing worksheets and have them use crayons or pencils to trace the letters. You may put shaving cream or pudding on a cookie sheet and have children use their fingers to write letters or simply create lines.
Mathematics is another area that is likely to be a focus during small-group instruction. During small-group mathematics instruction, children should be presented with activities that promote number recognition, one-to-one correspondence and other pre-math skills, such as patterning and sorting. To promote number recognition, present children with magnetic numbers, have them name each of the numbers and then arrange them in sequential order. For one-to-one correspondence, children may draw an amount of shapes for a number, or you may state a number and instruct children to take an amount of items that corresponds to the number. To practice patterns, have students use different colored objects to create repeating patterns. To practice sorting, have children place items into piles based on common attributes.
Arts and crafts is yet another topic that may be focused on during small-group instruction. Students learn how to express their creativity, develop an appreciation for the ideas of one another and learn how to follow directions. Have children create paintings with different types of paints and items to use as paintbrushes, such as leaves, toothbrushes and pieces of yarn. Set out construction paper and craft foam shapes and have children use the materials to create pictures. Have children use a variety of art materials to create collages. Additionally, you can also create more structured projects, such as crafts that relate to specific themes.
Fine motor skill development is often a focus of preschool curriculum, as the small muscles of the hands are developing at this age and are needed for a variety of tasks, such as writing and grasping items. To promote fine motor development during small group instruction, provide children with tweezers and have them use the tweezers to grab cotton balls, beads and other small objects. Set out lacing cards and have children lace yarn through the holes of the cards. Offer students beads and string, and have them place the beads on to the string to create necklaces.