SMALL GROUP... My two most hated words my first 3 years of teaching... the sound of these words together made my stomach turn! Everyone from coworkers to specialists had the ideas, but the countless hours I spent trying to make these "ideas" and this time engaging for the ENTIRE class was disgusting. I gave up many nights and weekends trying to find something that worked and kept the littles attention for longer than 2 minutes! I spent hours laminating and cutting - trying to make hands on activities that not only kept them engaged but was also growing those little brains! Everything I tried just didn't seem to keep them at their desks working independently , so I could work with the kiddos at my small group table. I was defeated. I felt like I was failing my students. I knew my low babies needed this time more than any part of the day, but I just couldn't find a way to make it successful. Fast forward out of my self pity to a Christmas craft fair in my hometown.