55 Working in Groups

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Working in Groups Opening Page

Start-Up Activity

Divide your class into small groups and give each a set of U.S. coins: a penny, a nickle, a dime, and a quarter. Challenge the groups to study the coins in order to find a phrase that they all have in common. The motto E Pluribus Unum (meaning “out of many, one”) appears on all coins.

Once groups have discovered the phrase, discuss how it fits our country’s identity and how it relates to teamwork.

Think About It

“Listen carefully. That’s important. But I believe there are other main ingredients in a good group: to state positive comments before negative ones, to always insist that what one gives as a critique or review is a personal take on something rather than the [final word].”

—Jane Yolen

Page 414 from Writers Express

Making a Plan

Discuss the importance of planning during group projects. Making a plan ensures that each group member understands his or her responsibilities. A good group plan identifies the goal of the project, the jobs that need to be done, the responsibilities of each group member, and deadlines for completing each task.

Review the outline of a group plan, which is also available as a download. For long-term projects, you may choose to have students complete the minilesson, which includes a formal planning sheet.

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Page 415 from Writers Express

Skills for Listening

Explain why listening is an important part of group work. If group members don't listen to each other, they will not be able to cooperate and do great work. A good group member actively and respectfully listens to other group members' thoughts and ideas.

Review the tips for listening and read the note at the bottom of the page. Then ask how listening differs from hearing.

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Page 416 from Writers Express

Skills for Cooperating and Clarifying

Provide your students time to freewrite about what it means to cooperate. Afterward, ask for volunteers to share their ideas.

Then lead your class through the tips for cooperating. Point out that when students work in groups, every group member's perspective matters. Group members also should be open to changing their opinions.

Next, review the skills for clarifying, or "clearing up" confusion.

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Page 417 from Writers Express

Making a Group Decision and Evaluating Your Work

Demonstrate how to reach a consensus by reviewing the tips on this page. Make sure your students know that to reach a consensus, every group member must be agreeable. This doesn't mean everyone thinks the decision is the best decision; it means everyone agrees to accept the decision.

Finally, lead students through the strategies for evaluating group projects. Stress the importance of leaving enough time for evaluation before submitting their projects. Often the evaluation process will uncover something that needs improving. (The minilesson offers a quick rubric that works with the planning sheet minilesson from page 414.)

 

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Page 418 from Writers Express

Sharing Books

Plan a special day for students to share and discuss their favorite books, poems, or short stories. You might schedule this day during a special reading unit or after students have finished a piece of classroom literature.

Before students begin their discussion, review the tips and strategies on this page. Encourage groups to discuss the books using the questions about plot, character, and overall effect.
 

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