Teaching Tip
by Mushkie Lipsker @evergrowingeducator
Some teachers hesitate to introduce more group work in the classroom. Reasons for that can be the discomfort of students unwilling to collaborate with their assigned partners. Additionally, extended time may be needed to cover material, and some students prefer to work alone.
Giving students tools to work effectively in a group is a gift. Learning to work collaboratively and stay focused will help students for the rest of their lives—at future jobs, in building their communities, and even in their marriages.
Group work is super important these days because many people, even kids, feel lonely. Even though social media was supposed to help us feel more connected, it’s actually made us feel more alone. However, doing group activities in class can help make students feel like they’re part of a team.
Here are 3 tips for group work:
- Model: This might mean teaching students the language to use when forming groups and what to say if they agree or disagree.
- Reflection time: Have students self-reflect (or reflect as a group) to see what worked or could have gone better during their group work.
- Switch it up: Use a mix of grouping strategies, such as homogeneous (similar levels), heterogeneous (different levels), or student choice groups, to ensure that all students have opportunities to engage meaningfully in group work.
This excerpt is from the “Chinuch Matters” section of the Iyar COLlive Magazine, a collaboration between COLlive and the Menachem Education Foundation.
