Group think: Are we stuck in the masses?

Most students find school fun for the socialization and friends they make. Companies and industries thrive off of collaboration, socialization and working with coworkers. It is in our human nature. Yet our school system is designed for single minded thinking, singular testing and such extreme individualism. Do students know how to work with each other? Do we set them up for the success of the future of our world? Do they have the skills to adapt for whatever comes their way? Can they evolve and grow our world for the better because of their education…or despite?

We can create free thoughts and creativity through our lessons and how we allow students to interact. This is a space they spend majority of their days.

And we are regularly fighting them to stop talking to their friends, get back on task, don't shout across the room, etc.

There is a lot of research on the benefits of group work, collaboration and how students behavior almost certainly improves when you allow them to work with peers.

But many teachers have limited themselves to how much they can get out of it because we have not told the students why these skills are important. They are under the assumption they are getting away with talking with friends. If we can bring the rationale of group work to the forefront of students minds, it may be even more successful.

What is the rationale? Students learn how to work with different types of students who they may not initially want to work with. They learn skills to communicate their thoughts and perspectives in thoughtful and kind ways. They learn to problem solve when their is conflict, either between students or within the project they are working on.

We know this already, but do the students?

When we don't have this on our, the teachers, minds, it is easy to let the power of group work slip away. I know I have let it slip the last month or so.

But when I remember why it is beneficial not only for the students, but for my longevity of teaching as well, I bring it back an d students self-efficacy begins to improve again.

We can take it a step further then. Bring the awareness to our students.

It seems like many of the teaching practices are almost a secret. Like "shhh, don't let the students know what we are doing."

But kids are smart. and if we communicate with them the fact that this is important skills they will use for the rest of their lives, we will see students slowly (even if you can't see it your year with them, we are talking over years), they will engage more and be more intentional on their group work.

Students know who they work well with and who they don't. When you allow space for them to share that, it may surprise you.

Many students have told me that they don't work well with one of their closest friends in the class. And they'd prefer not to.

Stepping stone: not only can this be a reason to separate friends, it might be a reason to have them work together.... down the line.... after long spouts of talking about the skills learned through group work.