Coop Learning Chapter 9

Kagan Cooperative Learning Chapter 9

Five Aims of Classbuilding  1. Getting Acquainted  2. Class Identity Building  3. Mutual Support  4. Valuing Differences

 5. Developing Synergy

Getting Acquainted  Promotes the idea that classmates are real people with real feelings.

 Breaks down superficial barriers.  Reduces cliques  The basic needs of feeling important, being liked, and belonging are met.

Structures and Activities for Getting Acquainted 

Find Someone Who

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Fact-or-Fiction

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People Hunt

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Fact Bingo

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Similarity Groups

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Round Robin

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Inside-Outside Circle

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Class Projects  Birthday Calendar

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Formations  Class Bar Graphs

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Linkages

 Gesture-Name-Game  All About Me 

Class Line-Ups

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Mix-Pair-Share

Class Identity Building  Goal is for students to feel that their class is unique.  Promote the feeling of being a proud member of the class.  Create distinguishing identity through projects:  Class Name  Class Logo  Class Song or Chant

Structures and Activities for Class Identity Building  Class Name  Class Logo, Banner, Mural  Class Door

 Team Mosaic: Divide door into sections and have each team design a section.  Class Song

 Student Wall  Student profile sheet turn into bulletin board.  Class Web Site  Class Books  Classroom Signals  Class Mission Statement

Mutual Support  Mutual support builds trust among the students in the class.

 Promotes interdependence with in the classroom.

Structures and Activities for Mutual Support  Hidden Helpers  Students receive a secret pal and do something nice for them during the week. No material gifts.

 Ticket Agents  Assign two students to handout tickets for positive behavior.

 Chain of Friendship  Students report positive behavior to the teacher. The teacher gives the student a colored link to add to the class chain.  Class Party  Brainstorm what makes a good party. Have students sign up to bring items. After party reflect on what would happen if we didn’t each do our part.

Mutual Support Continued  Mix-Freeze-Group  Who Am I?  Service Learning Projects

Valuing Differences  Celebrate Diversity  Students need to understand that our classroom values differences.  Through our diversity we create a richer classroom environment.

Structures and Activities for Valuing Differences  Corners  Agree-Disagree Line Ups

Developing Synergy  Synergy in a group allows the group to produce and learn more than if the student is working independently.  Synergy must be present to fully engage in the cooperative process.

Structures and Activities for Developing Synergy  Circle-the Sage  Several students are selected as the expert of a topic (the sage). All other students will sit with the sage and learn from the expert. The students take notes then report back to their original group.

 Formations  Geometric Forms  Imaginary Machine

Structures and Activities for Developing Synergy  Class Projects

Class Restructuring  Class Meetings  Function: plan event, solve problems, improve class functioning, and provide mutual support.  Structure: Hold regular meetings each week.  Agenda: Items must be on agenda prior to meeting. The teacher has ultimate decision power about agenda items.  Student Planning: Give students the opportunity to run certain aspects of the meetings.

Class Meetings Continued  Schedule:  Begin with announcements

 Problem solving  Event planning  End with a mutual support activity  Student Input: During problem solving use a structure that will allow all students to see each others responses.  Suggestion/Appreciation Box: Gives each student an opportunity to have input. Share during the class meeting.

Setting a Positive Class Tone  Activities that enhance the class climate:  Arts/Crafts  Board Games  Class Goals  Humor/Jokes  Parties  Silly Sports and Goofy Games

 Student Ownership:  Student Bulletin Boards  Student Jobs

 Student Government  Student Committees  Reward/Celebrations

 Choice of Centers/Activities  Student Evaluations

“The two approaches described in this chapter are different. But the outcome for both is the same: creating a cooperative, caring community of learners where everyone wants to be and learn.”

~ Kagan Cooperative Learning