Literacy Strategies

Collaborative learning is also not ability grouping. In fact, collaborative groups must be purposefully constructed to ensure maximum success. Success in a collaborative group is dependent on students having access to peers with diverse ideas, interests, and skills (Sapon-Shevin, 2007). As such, mixed-ability groups, purposefully organized by the teacher, are important. Asking a group of students who don’t speak much to work together will not likely produce the desired outcome. Similarly, assigning a group of students who all can complete fraction problems to a spiral review task will likely result in their off-task behavior. Although this group of students can probably use the spiral review, they are more likely to complete the tasks when they feel like they are working with others who need some assistance, guidance, or explanation.

Classroom Teamwork Agreement Sheets

Padlets