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Collaborative work in the classroom can have powerful and positive effects on student learning. In order to create the best possible outcome for students, teachers have to develop and employ learning strategies that help students engage with the content and with each other. In the article Inventories, Confessionals, and Contracts: Strategies for Effective Group Work,…
Often times in our classrooms we provide visible examples of successful student work, so that current students have greater clarity regarding the assigned task. Those visible models are tangible for students and have a powerful positive impact on their own products. Teachers who are planning for collaboration also need to see exemplars of collaboration in…
If you’re a fan of television sitcoms, you might recall the show “Home Improvement.” The lead character, Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor, had a penchant seeking out bigger, faster, and stronger tools. His catchphrase was, “More power!” Most of his attempts to upgrade his tools were successful . . . at least a short period…
Collaborative classroom work doesn’t just happen. It must be carefully planned and implemented. In the article Planning for Great Group Work, author Willona Sloan details seven steps for collaborative student work: Build a culture of collaboration: Begin on day one with low-stakes tasks, so that students have the opportunity to practice the skills they will…
While classrooms are often filled with student chatter, that chatter is not productive in nature. Teachers must be intentional in their planning for student collaboration. In the article Maximizing Those A-Ha Moments with Intentional Collaboration by Nataki Gregory, four steps for intentional collaboration are identified: Set the purpose – Talk about why it is important…
If you’re reading this, it is very likely that you are questioning some things related to your teaching practices. You might be asking some of the following: Can my teaching really improve? Will it be worth the time and effort I invest? Will my students benefit from my improvement? The answer to each of these…
Collaboration within the classroom has been the subject of study for a number of researchers. Of particular interest to teachers are studies that point to effective structures, tasks, and skills that can be addressed in a variety of classrooms. In a 2018 publication titled Learning with Others: A Study Exploring the Relationship Between Collaboration, Personalization,…
The primary instructional model in use for many years in many classrooms was “sit and get.” In other words, the students sat there while the teacher stood at the front of the classroom lecturing. There are times were such a methodology may be appropriate in small doses. However, today’s world often requires a more connected…
Schools have the opportunity to increase their capacity in social-emotional learning. In their book All Learning Is Social And Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom And Beyond, authors Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Dominique Smith share ideas about how to build SEL schools (pp. 143-155): Use data to guide decision-making – Study…
Phil Harrison Coaching 