My classes are all about cooperative learning and group work. That has especially become the case since I am using more math workshop model problem solving - rich math tasks solved first individually, then in a small group, and then shared with the class. This requires good communication and student talk. Not only am I experimenting with a new model of teaching, but I am helping facilitate a group of our staff that is working on student engagement and more specifically quality student talk. These two ideas have converged lately in my class.
There are challenges with elementary students working with partners and small groups in the form of respectful listening and polite conversation (especially in my tiny physical space.) This is further complicated by a couple of my students who have identified challenges with social interactions. I want to build a place for discourse, but there is work to be done first. I find giving them concrete strategies for what group work and student talk "looks like" and "sounds like" tends to make our time together go more smoothly. We created an anchor chart at one point this year to help, but ultimately, I have found those strategies boil down to the four L’s: look, lean, listen, and lower voice. To that end, I have put up a new poster in my classroom that we are using as a reminder. And it turned out that using my last name made it a little quirky (see if you get my “joke!”)
There are challenges with elementary students working with partners and small groups in the form of respectful listening and polite conversation (especially in my tiny physical space.) This is further complicated by a couple of my students who have identified challenges with social interactions. I want to build a place for discourse, but there is work to be done first. I find giving them concrete strategies for what group work and student talk "looks like" and "sounds like" tends to make our time together go more smoothly. We created an anchor chart at one point this year to help, but ultimately, I have found those strategies boil down to the four L’s: look, lean, listen, and lower voice. To that end, I have put up a new poster in my classroom that we are using as a reminder. And it turned out that using my last name made it a little quirky (see if you get my “joke!”)
Like all amazing ideas in my classroom, the four L's are not my unique idea. While looking for videos for my staff development group, I found this video that I "stole" the idea from (at minute 4:30, the teacher presents the 4 L's.)