GROUP WORK IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR DEALING WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASPECTS OF GUIDANCE AND OF ASSISTING CHILDREN WHO SHOW A DEFEATING SELF-CONCEPT OR AN INABILITY TO RELATE TO OTHERS. GROUP WORK IS AN EFFICIENT WAY OF DEALING WITH GROWING NUMBERS OF MALADJUSTED CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. THE FORCE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL GROUP IS POWERFUL AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. GROUP FAILURE IS CAUSED BY IGNORANCE OF THE DYNAMICS OF HUMAN INTERACTION. SUCH DYNAMICS ARE DESCRIBED, AS ARE THE ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL GROUP. GROUP WORK CAN FURTHER THE STUDENT'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF-CONCEPT, THE WORLD OF WORK AND EDUCATION, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF AND WORLD. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE ACHIEVED AT THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL THROUGH SUCH ACTIVITIES AS WRITING AND TELLING STORIES, AND MAKING BIOGRAPHICAL STUDIES. GROUP GUIDANCE EMPHASIZES THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND ADJUSTMENT TO THE SCHOOL SETTING THROUGH GET-ACQUAINTED METHODS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND ROLE-PLAYING. SMALL GROUP COUNSELING DEALS MORE WITH PROBLEMS OF ATTITUDES TOWARD SELF AND SELF DEFINITION. THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM AND GROUP GUIDANCE PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS AND ALSO SERVE TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE RANGE OF GUIDANCE SERVICES AVAILABLE. ALL GROUP ACTIVITIES HAVE GUIDANCE POTENTIAL. THE GROUP IS A MAJOR DETERMINANT OF SCHOOL ADJUSTMENT. THIS IS ONE OF THE REPORTS FROM THE ZION CONFERENCE AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DEMONSTRATION CENTERS INCLUDED IN "ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GUIDANCE IN ILLINOIS." (PS)