Essential Components for Group Work

Interpersonal and Small Group SkillsPositive Interdependence Individual AccountabilityFace-To-Face InteractionGroup Processing

Interpersonal and Small Group Skills

• “I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun.” John D. Rockefeller

• Helpful Hints:• Choose the most important cooperative

skill for each group and stick with it until it is mastered.

• Model what the skill should look like and sound like.

Group with purpose when

doing activities involving new concepts and emerging skills.

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Rank order the students and pair them up accordingly.

Avoid pairing the highest student with the lowest.

Positive Interdependence& Individual Accountability

• The idea that you are linked with others, that their work benefits you and your work benefits them.

• EXAMPLES• Jigsaw• Assign Meaningful Roles• Rewarding the group for reaching an achievement goal• Limit resources• Provide guidance• Create a group identity

“What children can do together today, they can do alone tomorrow.” Vygotsky

Face-To-Face Interaction

• Knee to Knee, Eye to Eye• Side by side seating does not encourage

eye contact and cooperative interaction.

Group Processing• Small Group What did your group do well? Give each person in your group 1 compliment. What is one thing your group could have done better?

• Large Group Teacher gives specific examples of things done well. The group shares examples of things done well. Discuss difficulties. Celebrate Successes.