Workshop Series Part 3 - Cooperative Learning

Classroom Instruction That Work

Workshop Series – Part 3 Cooperative Learning

January 2013

Engage “The Hand Game”/ “The Trust Walk” /Cooperative Learning Hand Wrestling

Explore * Anchor Chart
              * Cooperative Learning Expectations
             * Small group vs Cooperative Learning

Explain Tips for teaching from CITW ed 2 pg 46

Elaborate T.E.A.M. or other groupings Coaching Site Resources*

Evaluate How to monitor and evaluate groups

* Additional Resources located through B-Connect, select Instructional Resources, click on the District Instructional Coaching Google site, and finally select the tab “CITW – Classroom Instruction That Works”.

Working Agenda / Presenter Notes

Hand Game – came from wall wisher on CITW Google site.  Cross over hands with each other.  One tap starts the rotation around the semi circle, double tap reverses rotation.  Hands are crossed so everyone has to rely on the person before them and after and pay close attention.  If you tap out of turn, that hand is out. 

Trust Walk requires partners to work together to get through the obstacles.  The blindfolded partner can't see, but the seeing partner can't touch to blindfolded one.  They must safely walk their blind partner around the hole (paper circle on the ground) and over the stump (a cone in the path) and safely into the chair at the end.  

The Hand Wrestling has partners wrestling.  The goal is that which ever team gets the most hands down on table wins.  (Adults quickly figure this out, but kids start to fight against each other until they realize they should be a team)

The purpose of these activities - what do you have to do to complete the task? Can you complete the goal/task without the help of other team members?

Explore – groups will create a Teamwork anchor chart – one that they would want to use in their class.  What do you want cooperative learning to look like, what do you want it to sound like, what are you expectations?

Explain – Review the TIPS for Teaching on pg 46. 

1. discuss how team building activities at beginning of the year allow students to grow together and work together, get to know one another.
2. set expectations with an anchor chart, model and practice expectations
3.  
4.   Cooperative learning should be used to master or practice a skill
5. clearly defined goals, roles and responsibilities for each member while maintaining individual accountability.
6.  

TEAM(S) poster and grouping, grouping cards, when to use grouping.  Questions to ask if Cooperative learning is a good strategy:
* is negotiation, debating, problem solving, or team skills being taught, practices, or assessed?

* will the children learn the material more effectively with peer support than with out?

* do the students need a break from independent work or teacher directed activities?

Partner learning is another form of Cooperative Learning

Reference www.lauracandler.com for many free Cooperative Learning resources

Discuss managing groups – STOP signs to remind groups to have a moment of silence to reflect on what they are learning or to make sure they are on track.  (Gave copies to participants of http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/CL/CooperativeLearningSOS.pdf and http://www.lauracandler.com/strategies/CL/TeamStopSigns.pdf

Elaborate – RESOURCES!!! on Coaches google site

Evaluate – discussed ways to have students self reflect on group work.  Shared an example of an evaluation.  TEAM evaluation if using TEAM – maintains accountability of all group members and self reflection. How do you grade cooperative learning assignments? Individually or as a team?