Hello everyone,
Let's work together to find some rules, in-sights, recommendations, and strategies for cooperative groups! I am a 5th grade teacher and I recently placed my students in cooperative groups. I have set up some recommendations but they are not using them. Do you have any suggestions? I have desks rather than tables. Although, I'd rather have tables!
Thank you for your cooperation! :)
Katie Allsup
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI read that cooperative groups are more than just having students sit together and "help" each other with assignments. A true cooperative learning experience requires that a number of criteria be met. They are:
-Division of labor among students in the group
-Face-to-face interaction between students
-Assignment of specific roles and duties to students
-Group processing of a task
-Positive interdependence in which students all need to do their assigned duties in order for the task to be completed
-Individual accountability for completing one's own assigned duties
-The development of social skills as a result of cooperative interaction
-Provision of group rewards by the teacher
I hope this helps. Good luck on your endeavor. JFeltman
Thank you so much Jennifer for responding! I was beginning to think no one received my invite! I really liked the idea of the positive interdependence! I need to have each pod designated job roles. I have a pod leader and they are responsible for getting supplies and such. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteOne idea for cooperative learning groups could simply be a science experiment. Just like Jennfier mentioned, everyone in the group should have their own responsibilities to contribute to the whole product in the end. If I were you I would walk around the room and act as a guide. If they get stumbled on a certain area then, try to direct them back on the path. Let them figure out why things happen the way they do. When they really seat down and get their brains going they will surprise themselves on how much they can learn. As teachers, it is our job to set up opportunities for that to happen.
ReplyDelete-Good luck with everything ! :)
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ReplyDeleteSocial skills are very important in cooperative groups. Student have to listen to others in order to effectively work together. The biggest issue I have is teaching students how to compromise when there is a disagreement. Simple manners like not interrupting others need to be taught for cooperative groups to work effectively. I hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteLBowling