Small Group Instruction Improves Learning at Del Mar Pines School

At Del Mar Pines School, small group ability-based instruction in both Mathematics and Language Arts ensures that every student receives individual attention and is appropriately challenged to succeed. Students are placed in small groups based on a wide range of assessments conducted at the beginning of the school year and monitored throughout the year.

Through small group instruction, we can meet our children where they are. Our teachers challenge students appropriately, strengthen areas that need reinforcement, and build confidence through meaningful progress. In addition to ability-based groups, a dedicated resource teacher is available across all grade levels to provide supplemental support when needed.

Mathematics

Our math program is designed to help students truly understand and master essential mathematical concepts—not just memorize them. Students receive 60–90 minutes of daily math instruction in small groups. These groups are led by a core mathematics teacher who delivers lessons, reinforces concepts, and reviews homework to ensure understanding.

Students are encouraged to grow at a pace that matches their readiness and we do not limit students by grade-level boundaries. Students who demonstrate advanced mastery are placed into higher-level math groups so they can continue progressing.

In the younger grades, hands-on learning forms the foundation of mathematical understanding. Kindergarteners explore numbers, patterns, manipulatives, place value, simple graphing, and early problem-solving. As students move through the grades, they engage with increasingly complex concepts such as computational fluency, multi-step problem solving, geometry, statistics and probability, and eventually algebraic thinking and linear equations.

Language Arts

To build strong readers and confident communicators, Language Arts is taught daily for 30–60 minutes in small ability-based groups, ensuring focused instruction and individualized support.

In the lower grades (K–3), the emphasis is on building foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Because reading development varies widely at these ages, Kindergarten and first grade classes are supported by two teachers and four small reading groups of just 4–6 students each. This structure allows students to progress at an appropriate pace and receive specialized instruction tailored to their skill level. Early writing workshops incorporate phonics, phonemic awareness, and hands-on literacy materials.

In second and third grade, students progress into two small Language Arts groups per class as reading fluency and writing skills strengthen. New techniques, such as mind mapping and early paragraph structure, help students organize their thoughts and express ideas clearly.

By fourth through sixth grade, students work as a full class, building on the strong foundation developed in earlier years. Instruction shifts toward novel studies, deeper comprehension strategies, literary analysis, and increasingly sophisticated writing assignments and essays. Students learn to support arguments with evidence, analyze texts critically, and communicate with clarity and purpose.

Proven Results

We believe our commitment to small group, ability-based instruction plays a major role in the exceptionally high standardized test scores of Del Mar Pines students. When compared to independent schools nationwide, our students consistently score in the 90th percentile and above across all subjects, performing on average 40% higher than national grade-level norms.

These results reflect what we see every day in our classrooms: motivated learners, confident problem solvers, and students who feel supported, challenged, and empowered to do their best.