Tips for Successful Small Group Work in the Classroom
Overview
Here are some tips to ensure successful small group work in your classroom!
Having students work in groups is the best way to teach group work; however, every step of the way from group formation to individual evaluations will affect the outcome of the groups.
Tips to making group work successful in your classroom:
1. Use a system to create your groups (if students choose, they limit diversity; if you choose, they will complain). My system helps to diversify the students a bit and puts the higher achievers with the lower achievers a bit!
- I have students complete a quiz, get a score, and line them up according to their score (highest to lowest).
- I then have them count off 1, 2, 3. 4 (depending on how large I want my groups to be)
- All the 1’s get in a group
- All the 2’s get in a group
- All the 3’s get in a group
- All the 4’s get in a group
Here is the “quiz” I give them:
Give yourself the correct amount of points for each statement below, and then add together for your total.
If the statement is TRUE, give yourself 3 points
If the statement is UNTRUE, give yourself 1 point
1. I work at least 10 hours each week: __________
2. I am a senior: __________
3. I am the oldest(or only) child in my family: __________
4. I have worked with a group or team before: __________
5. I have maintained a 3.5 G.P.A. in high school: __________
6. I am a member of an organization at school __________
7. I have volunteered for a nonprofit before: __________ Total:_____________
2. As soon as they are in their groups, I have them share contact information and set up a google.doc and add me, so I can check their progress throughout the project.
3. I get them started on something fun (and not necessarily serious) to get them comfortable with their group members. Here are some examples of introductory activities:
- Have them find 5 things they all have in common and 5 things they all have different.
- Have them make the tallest JENGA towers (or Legos, etc.) if you have access to several games
- Have them decide on a name, color, or an animal to represent them (and hold them together as a group)
4. I have them complete the restaurant activity (see opening activity resource)
5. One the real project starts, check the google doc often (once or twice a week) to make sure everyone is working on the project. You can find the history (who has added what content) by going to file and choosing version history.
6. Make sure you meet with each group to check progress, re-explain directions, answer questions, etc.
7. Have students fill out evaluation forms after they have completed the project (this is a reflective exercise that forces them to use critical thinking skills to justify their answers).
8. Finally, I have groups evaluate other groups during presentations – this forces them to pay attention and gives much needed feedback to the groups.