Our classroom is set up in the same style as our Methods class (four students grouped together). Most call it cooperative learning. I did not have a strong attraction towards this when our placement began, but now I see the benefits and purpose to it.
One reoccurring game/teaching activity we do is called "Showdown." Even though the students often see this as a contest or competition as many games become in middle school, or even in high school, and sometimes in college also. This activity really utilizes the cooperative learning structure of the classroom. The kids learn from each other through peer learning and discussion, while the teacher (and her helpers) go around to groups to make sure they are understanding.
In this activity each group of four students is given 7-10 flash cards with a question on it. Each student, first, tries to work it out on a personal whiteboard by themselves. After they get an answer then they compare to their group mates. If answers are different then hey discuss and figure out where one of them went astray.
Even though I had my several doubts as to whether this would work, due to side discussions, copying work, messing around or just not doing it, it really has been great for the students in their learning journey. Our CT always poses the question when they are about to begin, "If you are copying someone else's board is that helping yourself?" And it is always answered with several half-hearted, robotic "no's." Then she proceeds with, "If someone doesn't understand the material then is letting them copy you helping them learn?" Again the groans of "no's" fill the room. Even though the students know this is true, I can see the benefit of always reminding them when we begin.
As we did this activity one particular day this week, our CT, Cassie and myself were all checking answers. I was checking the board work of a student. Her work to get to this answer was completely jumbled and incorrect. Dropping negatives. Adding incorrectly. Taking a division sign as subtraction. Amazingly she got the correct answer: x=24. So I told her that she did not have the correct work for this answer, to which she gave me a little attitude. She could not understand why I was telling her to recheck her work if she got the same answer as all the other three students. This was when I got the opportunity to explain that the work we use to get to the correct answer is just as important, if not more important, as the the answer (Thanks Lorraine). Lesson learned.
Until next week!
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteI love Show Down. From your last comment about taking an opportunity to explain that the work is equally as important as the answer, it sounds like you are already maturing as a practicum student. Good work. Enjoy this week.
Chris
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteShowdown seems like an awesome activity! I like that your CT encourages students to try the problem first on their own and then check and discuss as a group. I also love that your CT poses the question : "If you are copying someone else's board is that helping yourself?" "If someone doesn't understand the material then is letting them copy you helping them learn?" That is an awesome way to make them responsible and accountable for their own learning.
I think that you did a great job taking the time to explain to the student that the work is just as important (or more!) than the correct answer. Way to use your teachable moment :)
Can I ask why you didn't like the teams at first when you started practicum? Why do you like them now? I've heard of middle school teachers saying "teams would never work in a middle school!" I'm very curious what your response would be!! We have teams in our class at the high school and I absolutely love them but I'm definitely wondering what your experience is like in the middle school!
Showdown is one of my favorite activities we do in our classroom! I was the same as you in how I wasn't so sure about the arrangement of four students at a table, especially in middle school, because I know how talkative and roudy they can be. I also had the same concerns when we first played showdown with our students. Ironically, I also came to the "dark side" and saw that it really was beneficial to the students, that is if we do make them responsible for their own work as you said you did with that one student. My CT does not use the questions that yours does before starting the activity, but I might have to steal it from her and see if mine will want to use it because I think it is good to remind them that cheating doesn't benefit anyone in the long run.
ReplyDeleteTyler (and Melissa) I am also wondering, like Jessica, about your worry about teams. Anything is possible with the right conditions. Were your worries just that students wouldn't be able to concentrate the way you would like them to in teams/groups? I think that the questions your CT asks students are really critical. It is up to the teacher to help students understand what is expected of them in terms of their behavior. We can't just expect students to know how to work in groups. I would argue that they often are just as "rowdy" or not paying attention when not in groups. Sometimes groups can help make them more accountable as they have to work together. Anyway, I am glad you are getting to see how this kind of set-up is beneficial. You don't have to adapt it, but at least you are getting to see it in action and it can help you make your own informed decisions, :-)
ReplyDeleteI think my hesitation at the beginning was that they would be messing around more without the teachers knowledge. I can see that there is some of that even though there are three adults supervising them everyday. I like the group model, but I like it because I have seen it done well in this classroom. Holly is very often reminding everyone what the purpose of each activity is and how to be a good team member. I think it works a lot better for learning, but for the days that more lecture needs to be done rather than activity, then I think the kids learn how to avoid the eye of the teacher. Also, we are witnessing right now that one team member no matter how many times Holly comments and reminds everyone, he is copying directly fom his group members' boards. It is difficult to see it happen, but he is failing because of it. I am leaning toward the group model because I see the benefit of peer modeling and discussion.
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