Speed Grouping

       With the use of iPads in my classroom I need multiple ways to combine students into groups that isn't just about my choosing/pairings.  Don't get me wrong, they are going to be paired by my choice as well, but for the days when I don't mind if they work with someone they know, I needed a way to pair them.  I only have five iPads in my room (which I'm UBER excited about), but I need to pair three students on an iPad (or computer in the back of my room (I only have one)) and rotate half way through my class to pull off my technology assignments at the same time as my typical, but shortened, lesson.
     We dedicated half of one day to learning about each of our classmates in what I'm now referring to as Speed Grouping (Group Shuffle or Group Interviews were thrown out as potential names).  The topic was introduced as similar to speed dating, but without the romance.  My largest class (37) had the least amount of time with 30 seconds to woo their classmates into choosing them.  They then had 30 seconds to make notes, which included the person's first name, last name, a fact they learned about them, and a rating from 1-10 (the ratings are between the student and I and the other student was NOT to be told their rating at any point and time).  After the buzzer went off, for time being up, "Switch" was called and the people on the left columns rotated themselves to the next seat over.  The classes with less students had about a minute to do their part of the 'why I would make a great group mate'.
     This was going GREAT, until during one period I was called into the hallway to be asked about emergency resources for a student.  I found that when I left the room, some how the transition from one column to the other was somehow switched and it no longer worked.  When all was said and done students then chose five people they MOST wanted to work with (typically their rated 9-10) and I did my best to accommodate those wishes.  I did threaten that if they filled in their top Five before giving everyone a fair chance that they would get no one on their list.  I also pointed out that it shouldn't be a popularity contest because just because your best friend is your best friend, does not mean that they are necessarily going to be the best group mate for you.  For my groupings, they will be paired by previous Social Studies Grades, Reading Scores/Levels, and Interests.

Speed Group Sheet had the following:

My Name: ____________________________ Class/Period: _______________________

My Top Five: ____________________________________________________________
                     ____________________________________________________________
                     ____________________________________________________________
                     ____________________________________________________________
                     ____________________________________________________________

1.


2.


3.


4.

.... continue for the number of students

I did mine front and back and half sheets so I have two rating sheets per sheet of paper.

Thanks for Reading!  :)