Cooperative Learning is NOT group work!

We love cooperative learning! It's come a long way in the last few years - it's SO much more than group work! Listening to the radio on the way to school the other day they were talking about a college class that involved group work and "those" members that don't pull their weight! One of the hosts said, "there has to be something better than letting someone get a good grade when they didn't do the work!" YES, YES, YES, there is!

Cooperative Learning is the answer! If you ever get a chance to attend a Kagen Cooperative Learning training we highly suggest you do! Cooperative Learning gives all the students in the room a chance to engage with the learning. If the teacher asks a question and just one child answers then only one child is 100% engaged with the question. But, turn that into a chance to have partners share their answer, then call on someone and 100% of the students are engaged in the question! 

It's that easy - seriously! We've been slowly sharing our strategies in posts (partner coach, turn and talk, round robin), along with anchor charts that we place in the room (great for teaching the strategy and for refreshers).

But, one of the easiest ways to use cooperative learning is to have your classroom tables/desks labeled for the jobs! It really reminds you to use the strategies. Another great thing about labeling the student spots is that they can rotate or exchange seats and always know their job! 

These table labels label your tables/desks by group, with AB partners (two students) and numbered partners. 

All you need to do is print these labels and decide how you want to attach them to your desks and labels! To print them download HERE or click on the picture!