I use a color-coded approach to small group organization and it works really well! I purchased red, yellow, green and blue wrist bands. (You can print your school name or inspirational messages on the bands.) We handed each student a band, intentionally choosing who would receive each color. (The activity was color-coded by difficulty level, known only to the teachers.) Students were directed to wear the band on their wrists.
It was so simple to then group and regroup by color band, to call on students with a specific color, ask students to go to a colored poster, etc. Students could easily remember their assignments – no more “Where am I supposed to be?” or “What am I supposed to do?”
Many of you have asked me where I found the wrist bands. Here's a link.