60-Second Strategy: Playing Card Table Groups
About this lesson
Having students draw playing cards to randomize seating for small groups each week ensures everyone experiences working with a variety of classmates. In Brittany Kelleher’s upper-level math class at Cedaredge High School in rural Delta county, Colorado, she keeps a long-term goal in mind: “I want students to be able to use the things they learn in my class in their everyday life.” And while she acknowledges that derivatives and local linearization may not have applications for many of them later on, she notes, “Being willing and able to work in a group to share and build off of each other's ideas, to navigate the conflict that sometimes comes from group work—all of those things I think most students will use when they leave my classroom.” So Kelleher is very intentional about how she sets up seating for group work, and her preference is randomized groups of three. Find the full collection of 60-second strategies for every grade level at Edutopia: https://edut.to/3Rm2M2j Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: https://edut.to/3wEVHUh *Follow us here:* Official Website: https://edutopia.org YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/edutopia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edutopia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edutopia BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org #classroommanagement #collaborativelearning © 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
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