STRUCTURING SMALL-GROUP WORK

STRUCTURING SMALL-GROUP WORK

1. Composing the Group

   • Two strategies in composing a small group are to assign children to heterogeneous groups and to have the group membership refl ect diversity in ability, ethnic background, socioeconomic status, and gender.

2. Team-Building Skills

   • Structuring small-group work also involves attention to team-building skills. A good strategy is to spend several weeks at the beginning of the school year on building team skills, helping students become better listeners, and giving them practice in contributing to a team product. Assigning one student in each small group to be a team leader can help to build the team.

3. Structuring Small-Group Interaction

   • A group also can benefi t when students are assigned diff erent roles—for example, encourager, gatekeeper, taskmaster, quiet captain, and materials monitor—that are designed to help the group function more smoothly.

4. SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVIST PROGRAMS

   • Fostering a Community of Learners
     • Fostering a Community of Learners (FCL) emphasizes (1) using adults as role models, (2) children teaching children, and (3) online computer consultation.
   • Schools for Thought
     • Schools for Th ought (SFT) combines activities from three programs: (1) Th e Jasper Project, (2) Fostering a Community of Learners (FCL), and (3) Computer-Supported Intentional Learning Environments (CSILE). Extended in-depth inquiry is fostered. Teachers guide students in becoming architects of their knowledge.