Can Group Work Be Effective?

Excerpted from my book Classroom Instruction from A to Z:
 
Group work is one of the most effective ways to help students learn. It can increase student motivation and is an important life skill. When I was teaching, some of my students didn’t like to work in groups. They complained every day until I brought in a newspaper article that said the number one reason people were fired from their jobs was that they couldn’t get along with their coworkers. That was an eye-opener for my students.

Recently, I was talking with a project manager, and I asked him about the importance of teamwork. He pointed out that knowing how to work with other people is critical. “The more successful you are, the more important it is to influence, motivate, and work with others. If you think about successful people, working with people becomes your job; that is what you do.”

That’s pretty insightful. For people who have achieved high levels of success in the workplace, no matter what the setting, teamwork isn’t part of their job, it is their job. As a teacher, this reminds me that if I believe I should prepare my students for life after school, then I need to teach them to work together.

For rubrics for evaluating group work, click here!

An Inspiring Video

One of the features my publisher, Eye on Education produces is a set of inspirational stories and videos.  I think all the Tales from a Teacher's Heart videos are awesome.  Here's one based on my experience teaching. 

Season 2, Episode 1
Having A Vision
Told by Barbara R. Blackburn

When the state mandates that her students must pass an achievement test to be promoted to high school, Barbara Blackburn responds to the challenge. She creates a vision of a successful school year, and she makes that vision a reality with rigorous instruction, support, and motivation for each of her students.

A Thorough Resource on Rigor

In 2009, The Hechinger Institute published a report, Understanding and Reporting on Academic Rigor. It includes a variety of perspectives, including a piece from me toward the back.  Check it out!

Come See Me in Illinois

March 16, I'll be just outside of Chicago to speak at the Connections Conference.  Check out my schedule here.  Hope to see you there!

Which Rigor Book for Leaders Should I Get?

Rigorous Schools and Classrooms is for someone who needs background to understand what rigor is and needs a basic grounding in such topics as school culture and school change. Although this book is practical – it has 33 tools -- its emphasis is on concepts.

On the other hand, Rigor in Your Schools: A Toolkit for Leaders was written as a response to reader requests for more implementation tools. There are 97 tools in this book to help school leaders implement rigor in their schools. Although the red book contains a brief review of the concepts, its emphasis is on the tools.

Newer principals, Board Members, and anyone without much background, should go with the blue book, Rigorous Schools and Classrooms.  If you are experienced and want lots of implementation tools, go with the red one, the Toolkit.

Name It, Claim It, and Explain It

One of my favorite activities for leaders comes from Rigorous Schools and Classrooms (and it's also in my newest book).  As you visit throughout your school, use your phone or a camera to take pictures or video of best instructional practices.  Then, start each faculty meeting by showing the picture or video.  The teacher who is featured should name it, claim it as their own, and explain what they were doing.  It's a great way to promote best practices, shift the culture of your school, and start your meetings with an instructional focus.  This is always one of the most popular activities during my workshops with principals. 

A Leadership Resource...and Some Great Teaching Ideas

One of my favorite conferences is the High Schools that Work Conference from the Southern Regional Education Board.  They have posted several newsletters featuring aspects of last year's conference.  On the last page of Schools Break the Mold to Produce Graduates Ready for Success in College and Careers, you'll find an article about my work with Ron Williamson on Leadership for Rigor.