Cooperative+Learning

=** My cooperative learning sub-system is based on me teaching math in a high-structured classroom setting. Students will have ample opportunity to enhance their social, cognitive, and exploration learning skills using small group learning. **=

** Group Goals: ** When incorporating cooperative learning in the classroom it is important for each group to have an overall goal to accomplish. The goal should be given by the teacher at the beginning of the lesson. As a teacher I will:
 * Start each lesson with an overview of what each group should be doing and what they should be working toward.
 * Give a handout and instructions on the overhead with verbal and visual directions.
 * Explain that each group goal be based around the topic of the lesson.
 * Make sure each student will have an equal responsibility within each group.
 * Within each group each student will have an assigned task to ensure that everyone will play a part of the group goal.
 * To ensure that my students are all actively working toward their group goals I will walk around with a clipboard and do periodic checks to make sure the groups are on on task.
 * At the end of the learning experience, each student will be required to give a progress report on how well they feel they accomplished the overall group goal.

assigned group roles. Students will keep their assigned number thorough the school year, but with each new cooperative learning activity, the meaning of their number will change. The responsibilities areas following: note taker, speaker, and group task manager/ time keeper. If some groups happen to be four, the task manager/time keeper will spit their roles.
 * Assign Roles: **
 * Assigning roles within groups helps to ensure that students will all equally participate. Since I will be working in a high structured setting,
 * I will have groups of three, with no more than four in each group.
 * Give out the instructions with a secret number written at the top. Students will either have a one,two, or three written at the top of their sheet.Students will stay in their assigned groups for no more than one month before getting regrouped


 * Note taker- Takes notes on whats going on. It must be neat and precise so that the speaker will know what to say.
 * Speaker- Presents all findings of the group task/project.
 * Group task manager/time keeper- Keeps the group on task and makes sure that the group gets everything accomplished before the bell rings.

**Classroom Arrangement**: Classroom arrangement can be the key to success in cooperative learning groups. Since I will be teaching in a high structured setting, my groups will be of three with no more than four students. My desk will be still be in the front left section of the classroom. The desk will all be placed in groups of fours from corner to corner just in case four students have to be placed in the desk. There will be one desk to the left and the right toward the front of the classroom, for those students who may misbehave or that may be causing major disruptions to his/ her group. If my classroom is equipped with tables instead of desk, I will just have 3-4 chairs placed at each table. None of my students back should ever be turned toward the front of my classroom or my desk, therefore the desk will be arranged in a diagonal or sideways so that I can at least see every ones hands and face.


 * Grading **:

Grading will be based on both an individual effort and a group effort. I will use proximity, grading rubrics, individual group member response forms, and a individual assessment. As a teacher, I will be very observant to my students in order to ensure that everyone is staying on task and there isn't any off task topics going on. I will have a clip board, in which, I will walk around the classroom with. If I notice a student off task, I will make eye contact with them and proceed to take off participation points. If I notice the entire group off task, I will, ask the task manger why the group is off task, and proceed to take points off the entire group. Groups who don't get any points taken off will receive 3 bonus points each for their overall grade. The points taken off will not be enough to severely hurt the students grades, but its just an incentive to help keep them on task. The grading rubric will be given out at the beginning of the group task with a step by step explanation of whats expected of them. As the group progresses through each task, they will have a place on the rubric to check off whats completed.If there is enough class time at the end of the entire task each student will be required to complete an exit slip. Peer evaluations may be given.

Please see the grading page for classwork grading scale.