Effective Group Work

Motivation+Engagement+Rigor=Student Success

February, 2014

Greetings!

I hope you are having a good second semester at school. I've been working on the final edits for my new book, Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers. It is due out around the end of March, so be on the lookout!

Today, we're taking a look at effective group work. You'll find several strategies which can help you implement or improve your own instruction.

On my website under free resources are a series of white papers. They are a great resource for school-based professional development. For those and any other resources on my site, you have copyright permission to use the materials in your classroom, school, or district. Finally, if you are interested in professional development, please feel free to call me at (609) 474-4677 or email me at bcgroup@gmail.com.

Barbara

Effective Group Work

In a rigorous and engaging classroom, students work together for learning. Working with other students provides the opportunity for students to see and hear different perspectives, and to learn more effectively.

The first step to effective group work is to share clear expectations with students. It's important to show students exactly what you expect. You can find a sample rubric to use here (scroll down for the PDF).

Next, provide a structured activity for students to complete. It is helpful to provide roles for students as you are starting. Check out the list of suggested roles on the right.

Finally, allow students to self-assess their work. You can use the simple SELF tool:

S-Did I help solve the problem or complete the assignment?

E-Did I engage with other members in a positive way?

L-What did I learn from working with others?

F-Did I follow through on my role, as well as helping others?

Principal's Perspective

How can you encourage effective group work? There are three ways. First, model group work in your meetings. Incorporate some pair-shares and other groups into any professional development or meetings. Next, celebrate when teachers are using effective group work. In small group meetings (such as grade levels, departments, or teams), encourage teachers to share their effective group strategies. Finally, if a teacher is struggling with groups, provide appropriate instructional support so they can improve.