Do cooperative groups really work?

I find your view on cooperative groups very interesting, especially the 'group worthy' aspect.  

I utilize teams continually.  Coming from business/industry, I believe that it is imperative that students learn to work within teams--business and industry mandate the practice.  However, I don't 'place' students in groups.  I incorporate interviews into the process of team selection.  Prior to interviews, I have students introduce themselves to the class and I ask them about their favorite subject.  

A students' favorite subject tells me a lot about their personality.  I vocalize these strengths to the class (continually) reinforcing the need to have a 'balanced' team (of strengths/weaknesses).  After this, I have the students interview one another.  Then, based on the interviews (and a little guidance from me) the students form teams.

They (the teams) do most everything together...however...I require that students turn in many individual assignments.  That provides a balance of group/individual assignment and/or assessment.

I am convicted to continue this practice for two reasons:  1.  I know that when the students enter the workforce they will need the interpersonal skills necessary to work within teams, and 2.  research says that if you can teach the material you know the material.  I have found that students (naturally) tutor each other in their team.  If they can teach the material, they know it...thus, I've accomplished my mission (so to speak).

Have you considered an alternative process to 'assigning' students to groups?

Betty, I agree with you. It's hideously difficult to "rig" a group so that they are balanced (the teacher has to do it especially with younger children, as they aren't mature enough to do it without the drama of exclusion) I remember learning all about the wonder of cooperative learning in college and both being in groups where I was both group-worthy and not group-worthy.  I don't like either one.  Even in non-school situations, I'd rather much do the work myself than trust someone else to pull their weight - sometimes you can pick up another's slack to have a good ending for the project; and sometimes you can't do their part -especially in a business team where it's not your authority to do so (that is sooooo frustrating)It's more important to me to get the work done so that the organization can move on to the next project, than to be stalled out because x didn't do their part and you can't do it for them no matter how willing you are just to 'get-r-done.' The project wouldn't have existed if the work didn't need to be done.

I have 2nd graders and I only do 1-2 group things a year just to try to plant the idea of everybody has to do something to contribute to the completion of the project.

As a media teacher, we do many group assignments from 2 person teams up to 10 person teams.  In every case, all members of  the team need to pull their weight to accomplish the task.  

I know that my students often get frustrated when a team member does not pull their weight - and students who repeatedly don't do their job become labeled as "not group worthy."  

But as someone who worked in TV for five years, I know it happens in the real world too.  So, we do need to teach our students how to work in a team.  But there are no magic bullets.  

I think that cooperative groups do have their place in the classroom, however, I do not think they are the be all and end all of effective student learning.  My daughter was always one of those kids that got stuck doing the majority of the work when she was put into groups.  So if not done effectively, our most skilled students become the ones doing most of the work.

Last year, I had two students that no one wanted to work with, no matter who they were placed with.  Now, I had some students who would tolerate them being in their group, but oftentimes, the students didn't trust these other two to do what was expected, so again, they would end up doing all of the work.

I agree that grouping kids can be difficut.  What helps with my students is having flexible grouping.  This means that kids are grouped in whatever way is helpful for the purpose of instruction.  There are set groups for things like guided groups, which I mostly have the power to change as the year goes on, but I also give the kids chances to pick groups for certain things.  They also sit in pods, which even when working independently, forces them to "play nice" with those around them as they are usually sharing supplies.  One of our classroom expectations is to work collaboratively, so it is something we build up to from day one.  We also spend time talking about conflict resolution and what to do when things go wrong.  Resolving conflict peasefully is another classroom expectation.  There are still times when problems surface, but I spend a lot of time with the kids in groups with my supervision before I let them go nuts on their own.  It takes a lot of time, but if it is something you want to do, I think it's well worth it.    

I gue groups in my class but I don't go the whole nine yards.  I don't like working in groups myself.  I find it frustrating.  I have the kids work in groups when in Science or projects for Social Studies but that is about it.  In reading, we do have buddy reading but that often causes problems too.

I am just a loner and so were my kids.  They didn't like working in groups and sharing responsibility for their grade.

I agree with Betty about them not wanting some kids in their group.  It causes hurt feelings and lowers esteeme.  It is a form of abandonment when they ignore you.

Dear Betty,

I often have had these same problems with group work.  I try to save group work for exceptional circumstances where there is a real REASON to work in a group.  I try my best to group kids with their FRIENDS, and I get a bit better results that way (but not always, as friends still fight and argue).

Eileen

Dedicated Elementary Teacher Overseas (in the Middle East)

elementaryteacher.wordpress.com

The kids don't seem to like group work very much, and I get frustrated with it, too. If you have a group of really motivated kids, that's one thing, but throw one slacker into the mix and it's a disaster! Of course, it all depends on the age of the kids you're working with, too. BTW, come join us for some insane fun tomorrow, with my Silly Sunday Sweepstakes!

Grouping kids can be frustrating. I find that partners work better for more academic assignments. Most of our larger group activities are centered around team building and social skills. Once the kids have a good supportive social dynamic, they are much better at working in cooperative academic groups.

I tell my kids, right up front, that I don't go for any of that not working with someone because he's a boy or she's a girl or whatever. It is an expectation that you will work with everyone in our class. Often, I give them the choice of who to work with, but I tell them that I want them to pick someone they haven't worked with before or haven't worked with for a long time. I also tell them that I have "veto" power over their choices if I feel they are not choosing wisely or respectfully.

Teaching students to work in groups and share responsibility is something very essential in the modern times where most things are not individualistic. A visit to www.K5Stars.com may throw some more light on how to make children adapt themselves to groups.