Communication Skills Inquiry

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 21^st 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.