Cooperative Learning

I use cooperative learning groups several times a week in my classroom in various subjects. The structure I find the most appealing for day to day application is the think-pair-share approach. I use it most often during reading and writing. It's great as a brainstorming tool. I have the students discuss the stories they are about to write in terms of the characters, setting, problem, and solution. Then during the class discussion I will switch between having the author or the author's partner share these elements. It keeps the students focused and allows them to practice communicating their ideas clearly. It also sets up a great relationship for peer conferences later. I believe that I use think-pair-share the most often because it is the easiest to manage.
I have tried to use jigsaw on multiple occasions, but I am still struggling to manage these appropriately. Even when trying to jump start these activities with a long discussion about group learning, there is always a conflict that prevents a group from moving forward. It is also difficult to plan a lesson in which all my students can actually participate. I have several students with special needs that have not been held very accountable in the past. Their ability to copy and pretend ignorance for three years has conditioned everyone else in the classroom to be overly helpful. Trying to convince everyone in the class, including the students with special needs, that they can do the assignment is a struggle.
I am currently doing leveled book clubs in my class. The literacy center groups and guided reading groups are based on which book each child is reading. Students in a book club work together to answer questions about their books and other related materials. My group of gifted students is reading A Wrinkle in Time and loving it! They work together to complete their comprehension packets and group presentations. The different products produced each week allow the students flexibility for when they want to work as individuals and when they want to cooperate to complete the work. It also allows for a variety of assessment approaches. Some cooperative learning models call for group accountability while others call for individual accountability for the information. The system I have set up for book club allows for a variety of ways for me to assess student work.
Most of my differentiation occurs at the process level which is one reason why I use so many cooperative learning groups. Very rarely are my students actually working individually. Each time I read about cooperative learning I'm always thinking of new lesson ideas. After break I'm going to give my students a multiplication facts quiz and create study groups based on the students performance. My students have been struggling, and I think that the encouragement of a group will be beneficial for all of my students. Plus, students who finish with multiplication can move right into division, so everyone will always have a focus for their groups.