Access Strategy: Cooperative Learning Strategies

Shuffle Traditional Group WorkCooperative Learning is

Goals O Practice effective scaffolding of Cooperative Learning techniques to increase ELs’ listening and speaking skills.

Why Cooperative Learning? For SELs, ELs, Students w/Disabilities, and Gifted students, cooperative learning promotes: O language acquisition O opportunities to practice their skills with more advanced students O thinking skills when students brainstorm, explain, question, disagree, socialize, persuade, and problem-solve.

Traditional Group WorkCooperative Learning is SELF-LEARNING Assignments are discussed with little commitment to each other's learning. COLLABORATIVE TEAMWORK Group members help, assist, encourage, and support each other's efforts to learn. SOCIAL SKILLS ASSUMED Social skills are assumed or ignored. SOCIAL SKILLS DIRECTLY TAUGHT Teamwork skills are emphasized -- members are explicitly taught and expected to use collaborative skills. TASK –ONLY EMPHASIS No processing of how well the group is functioning or the quality of its work. REFLECT ON GROUP DYNAMICS Students have time and are given a procedure to analyze how well their groups are functioning, how well they are using the appropriate social skills, and how to improve the quality of their work NO INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY Individual students not held responsible for their share of the work, “hitchhike” on others INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABILITY Leadership shared by all members. Each student is assessed on their mastery.

Essentials for Cooperative Learning 1) Clear “student-friendly” objectives Ex: We are going to do a gallery walk activity. My goals for you are to practice your listening and speaking skills. I also want you to begin to think about the image of America which will help you as we go into our unit on foreign policy. 2) Expectations of behavior 3) Modeling – short model of what the activity looks like and sounds like in action 4) Prompts – give students sentence starters

4 Corners Activity O Low risk for students O Facilitates small group interaction O Helps ELs practice oral language O Can be spontaneous

Student-friendly Objectives O The goals for you are to practice your listening and speaking skills. O I also want you to begin to think about “American Values”. This will help you as we go into our unit on the Bill of Rights.

4 Corners Directions 1. Determine whether you Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with the statement 2. Write your response on a 3x5 card 3. Move to the corner of the room that matches your response 4. While in your corner, you will have a small group discussion with your peers

Expectations O Everyone will participate O Students will respectful of each other’s opinions O Stay on task O Be mindful of time

Statement 1: The United States is welcoming to immigrants. O I agree with the statement because … O I chose this side because… O My reason for choosing this side is because… Good words to use are: support, evidence, basis, proof, facts, data, demonstrate

Modeling O I came to the “no” corner because I don’t agree that the United States is welcoming to immigrants. My reason is that everyday you hear that they want to keep building more fences and hire more guards at the border. That’s evidence the US wants to keep immigrants out.

Statement 2: We have more freedom now than we did 50 years ago. O I agree with the statement because… O I chose this side because… O My reason for choosing this side is because… Good words to use are: support, evidence, basis, proof, facts, data, demonstrate

Gallery Walk Activity 1. Walk around the room and take a look at the images on the walls. 2. Question: Which image BEST represents American values? 3. Select and stand by the image you have chosen. (There cannot be more than 5 people in each group.)

Gallery Walk Directions 1. Have a Round Robin discussion (each person speaks) O I chose this image because it shows … O This image most represents America because… O I think this image most represents America by …

Gallery Walk Example I chose this image of a cowboy because to me it reflects the American value of independence and having an adventurous spirit. I see this image in movies and ads.

Group Statement 1. As a group write a statement on how the image you selected represents our American values. 2. As a group “walk” around the room to read each statement. 3. CHALK TALK: Respond to other groups’ statements. Use marks, words, or add additional comments.

Helpful Hints for CL O Monitor the noise level and have consequences when kids get too loud. O If you are asked the same question by two groups, you may want to stop the whole class to clarify and take additional questions. O Use a rubric or checklist for students to grade their group’s collaboration. O Assign a group monitor if you are concerned about off task behavior. Assign a role to each student.

Reflection O How could the CL activities be beneficial for ELs? O Is there an upcoming lesson where you could use either 4 Corners, Gallery Walk or Stay and Stray? O What barriers/issues could you see for using one of the CL activities in your classroom?