Scenario: Parents of an ELL
student, questions you on your practice of “Collaborative Learning”, they are
used to “traditional classrooms”. They have noticed that you do not stay in
front of the classroom, the classroom is loud (students are talking), and they
question if you are teaching the students or if they are just having “social
time”.
To help formulate a response, please watch the quick video and look over Sean Graham's SLideShare presentation.
Video: “Cooperative
Learning Strategies in English language classes”
SlideShare Presentation: “Cooperative learning for ESL”
http://www.slideshare.net/MrGram/cooperative-learning-for-esl
What is collaborative
learning?
The
basic premise collaborative learning is that:
- Everyone participates
equally
- Everyone is accountable
- A supportive environment
is created through class building
activities and team building
activities
Why Collaborative
Learning?
1. We need to teach social
skills and model for students how to work with others.
o “Gambits” – useful
phrased that are needed to help a team work together effectively. Gambits provide
students with sample prompts to paraphrase, add on, question, politely disagree
and prompts to clarify.
o Teach how to give
feedback (anchor charts - good coaches, ask questions)
o Teach how to receive
feedback (thank you, I appreciate your feedback)
o Teach active listening skills (productive talk)
2. Builds confidence for low achieving students.
Low
achieving students feel more comfortable in small groups, and are more likely
to share ideas.
3.
Allows high achieving students to develop
communication skills and consolidate their learning.
4.
Gives students the opportunity to explain
their thinking.
5.
Students
receive immediate feedback. Incorrect
answers and misconceptions get corrected by peers in the moment, no need to
wait for the teacher to ‘mark’ work.

Cooperative learning
strategies enhances students:
- Interpersonal
communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Conflict resolutions
skills
- Responsibility
Many
cooperative learning activities can be modified to be done with very little
vocabulary to begin with. If your students do not speak a lot of English, start
with pictures and manipulatives.
Possible classroom activities:
Think-Pair-Share
Jigsaw
Numbered
Heads
Three-step
Interview
Coaching
Grouping
(sort, spectrum, puzzle)
Graphic
Organizers
Sean
Graham explains each of the activities in his SlideShare presentation.
If
a parent questioned me on some of our modern 21st century teaching strategies,
I would invite them to observe and sit in on a lesson. I would share the
valuable information I am sharing now. I might even record their child, when he
or she is explaining their thinking in a group setting and then share the video
with the parents. The video would hopefully show a more engaged and confident
child.
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