Cooperative Learning A Mini-Lesson By: Linda Mac Intyre

Cooperative Learning Students need to : be attentive listeners. appreciate the ideas and statements expressed by other students.

Cooperative Learning allow other students the right to pass. show respect for each other.

Inside/Outside Circles Encourages dialogue between students. Allows for movement Allows for different interactions Problem or question can be shown visually and orally. Allows students the right to pass and not answer.

Inside/Outside Circles Strategy #1 Half the class forms a circle The other half of the class forms another circle inside facing a student in the other. Teacher reads a poem and asks a question. All students are given time to think of the answer.

Inside/Outside Circles …… Person on the inside tells the person on the outside how they would solve the problem. When the person is finished they say “Pass”. The outside person will share or extend the thinking.

Inside/Outside Circles …… Before the next question have the outside person rotate once to the left or right. Next question. Think, pass, extend answer…

Think- Pair- Share Strategy #2 Group the class into pairs, Student A and Student B. Problem or question is presented by the teacher Student A and Student B think quietly. Teacher notifies “think time” has ended. Student A tells Student B Student B tells Student A Teacher randomly asks students to share.

Four Corners Strategy #3 Students need to make up their own minds and not be influenced by others. Students need time to think. Students are to start sharing once all students have a partner.

Four Corners Strategy #3 Begin with a statement. Each student chooses a corner that best captures their view or response. They move to that corner.

Four Corners ….. Once they move to the corner they pair up and share why they made that decision. Students should be prepared to share their response and partner’s if asked.

Three- Step Interview Strategy #4 Students Share their thinking Ask questions Take notes Have the right to ask for more time to think or pass.

Uses for The Three- Step Interview Sharing key ideas in reports, homework concept maps, units of study. Share their views on a question, problem or topic. Share their thoughts on a book, article or chapter they just read. Use video or tape while interviewing.

Three- Step Interview Each student is assigned a letter A = interviewer B = interviewee C = reporter Roles rotate after each interview

Three- Step Interview…. After all interviews students share their key information when they were person C.

Place Mat Strategy #5 Format of a place mat.

Place Mat Strategy …. Students are in groups of four. Each student has a section to brainstorm ideas on their own in quiet. Students share their thinking with group Each student has the right to pass and share later.

Place Mat Strategy …. Key ideas of group are placed in the middle square. Extension: Students may cut out their section, move, and share with another group.

Graffiti Strategy #6 Creative brainstorming Groups consist of 3- 4 students Each group has a different colored marker Each piece of chart paper has a topic in the middle of the paper.

Graffiti Strategy …. The students have 30 seconds to think of the topic on the paper. They have seconds to record ideas They stop, move to next paper and write more ideas. Continue until all papers have been visited.

Graffiti Strategy ….. Further Ideas: Words or drawings can be used. Character sketches of stories, initial unit of study(a country) with questions formed from original sheet Creating math sentences from a number with group checking problems on original sheet.

Jigsaw Strategy #7 Each student has an important role Divide students into groups of 5 or 6 One person from each group is the leader. Divide the information into segments.

Jigsaw Strategy …. Assign each student to learn one segment. Allow time for each student to read it twice and become familiar with it. Form temporary expert groups to discuss segment. Bring students back to original group.

Jigsaw Strategy …. Each student presents their segment to the group. Members of the group may ask questions. Group leader helps to keep students on task.

References Aronson, E. (2000). Jigsaw classroom: Jigsaw in ten easy steps. Social Psychology Network. Retrieved July 27, 2003 from Bennett, B. & Rolheiser (2001). Beyond Monet: The Artful Science of Instructional Integration.Toronto, Ontario: Bookation Inc.

Any Questions?