Cooperative Learning

  1.A.  Evaluate how you can use grouping patterns to teach your grade level standards in your content area or a specific content area if multiple subjects.

     In my experience I have found it to be beneficial to use grouping patterns when teaching grade level standards. The teacher will usually determine how to group students based on the activity. Students can be grouped by ability or level. For example, grouping high achieving students and low achieving students allows for higher achieving students to act as peer tutors for lower achieving students. Students could also be grouped according to their learning styles so that the groups can complete the assignment based on their style of learning. Students can also be grouped by the classroom seating arrangement. For example, in my classroom I have my students’ desks set up in groups of four. At times students can stay at their desks and work in their groups. There are so many ways to group students that are beneficial to learning and differentiation.

 B. Describe how you will form each group attaining a mixture of heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping.

     Heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping both have a place in the classroom. A teacher will usually group students based on the activity or the project that students will be completing.  Heterogeneous grouping is grouping students of differing abilities. One of the benefits of heterogeneous grouping is that it allows for higher achieving students to help or tutor lower achieving students.

     Homogeneous grouping is grouping students based on like ability. One benefit of homogeneous grouping is it allows the students to bounce ideas off each other and take their thinking to a deeper level. It also allows the teacher the opportunity to work with these groups to move them to a higher level.  In our classroom we use homogeneous grouping for our reading groups. If heterogeneous grouping was used for reading this would cause the high level readers to become frustrated with low level readers because of their need to read slower and sound out words. The high level readers would probably end up doing most of the reading and the low level readers would want to give up.  As an educator it is important to carefully plan how to group students with each activity so students get the most out of the learning experience.

C. Create at least three group configurations including whole group, small group, peer pairs and individual design.

     One group configuration that I would implement in my classroom would be to have students’ desks set up in groups of four. Students would do different projects and activities with the students in their groups. These groups would change throughout the year as I would give students new seating assignments ever so often. Another configuration I would implement would be reading groups. These reading groups would be homogeneous groups that students would work in each day. Lastly, I would implement peer partner groups. For example, I might assign students a writing partner. These students would work together on writing assignments. These students could give each other feedback and help in editing and writing assignments. There are so many beneficial ways to group students.

D. Explain how you will use each grouping pattern to reinforce the grade level content standard you selected.

Having students experience working in different types of groups will help ensure that students get the support they need to be successful. As an educator observing students as they are working in groups gives feedback as to which students are mastering skills being taught, and which students might need a little extra support.

E. Analyze how each grouping pattern will facilitate meeting the content area standard for each learner cluster. 

     For this grammar lesson students will be completing a worksheet. I would have students stay at their desks and work in their group of four. These groups would be heterogeneous, so higher achieving students could help lower achieving students complete the worksheet.  In reading, students would be placed in homogeneous groups so that I as the teacher could work one on one with these groups. This lends the opportunity for students to reach a higher level of learning. When having students do a writing assignment I would have them work with their writing partner so that these students could give each other feedback and help in editing their papers.

2. Defend cooperative learning (forming groups) allows for differentiation and increasing student performance.  

      Students learn and gain so much from working with their peers. From my observations and experience cooperative learning is a key to helping students grow and reach their full potential. Heterogeneous grouping allows higher achieving students to tutor lower achieving students. At times students who are quiet and more reserved feel more confident when they can run their answers by their peers. Some students feel more comfortable asking their peers for help than they do asking help from the teacher. Homogeneous grouping allows for the teacher to work one on one with different groups to help them reach a higher level of learning. Students could also be grouped according to their learning style so they can complete a project based on their style of learning. Grouping students keeps learning fun and interactive. Students can learn and grow from working with their peers. This also instills a life skill into students as they will have to be able to work with others in real life. I have seen learning come to life through cooperative learning. Cooperative learning allows for all students to learn and be successful.