encouraging student participation
Placing students in small groups is a means of allowing even quiet students to become involve. A team spirit is often created in small groups and the team most times will encourage each other to become involved.
Hi Erin,
You let your students know up front what will be the repercussions if they disrupt another group and stick to your guns. They will get it that you are not going to tolerate their foolishness.
Patricia Scales
I feel like small groups work for me in some classes, but not in others. Sometimes I will have my students break into groups and cover a section of the chapter, then they will share their part with the whole class. In some classes this works great and it generates nice discussion. In other classes, it's as if I have students who don't respect the others and they are talking or not paying attention while another group is presenting their section. I feel like I spend most of that group's section 'hushing' the crowd. Does anyone have any suggestions for this?
Small groups seem to be a great way to get all students involved. It really helps to make sure every student is involved in the class. It also can allow slower students to get some help from their other students.
I agree that placing students into groups now and then is a good strategy. The quiet students often make some friends and, more importantly, all of the students learn some teamwork skills.
