Cooperative learning or group work is not a time for teachers to relax.
In fact teachers must act as facilitators, scaffolding pupils in their task and their function in the group.
Pupils function in group must be ascertain and taught.
Every pupil in a group must have a role ensuring equal distribution of responsibilities.
Let us have a look on how group work can be done in the classroom.
In activity 2, pupils are assign roles to fulfill. One will act as a policeman, and the rest will act as witnesses.
This is a small group of 4 or 5, whereby a larger group would need other roles to fulfill.
Reading is always dreadful to pupils. To make it fun, teacher can try "Grab Bag Goodies".
It requires pupils to shake the bag and take turns to draw a strip from it.
With each pupil having a strip, it will create a sense of ownership thus making the pupils having the need to understand it.
Pupils can prove their understanding by drawing based on the sentence strip.
Later they can arrange the pages according to the passage and bind it for independent reading.
Using different coloured sheet of papers, pupils will be able to differentiate their task.
By drawing, the weaker learners can camouflage their proficiency but at the same time contributing to the group success.
In short, group activities can be fun and organized provided the teachers have knowledge in navigating task equally and suitable for their pupils.
I suggested this to my teacher the other day.
I hope by writing this out will benefit many more.
These activities can be done in this flow or taken out on its own, with minor adjustment.
Activity 1
Whole class approach
To show the stress on the addition of s to the verb.
- Teacher writes sentences on manila card.
- Pupils then given verb with an s and without.
- Pupils throw bean bag towards the correct verb.
- Let everybody try.
Rationale:
Highlighting the s sound.
Pupils will be more alert in making choices.
Activity 2
Group activity
To learn the pronoun
- Teacher grouped the pupils in 2 groups.
- One group with I, you, we and they
- Another with he, she, and it.
- Ask the pupils to notice the pronouns.
- In their group, pupils will be asked to repeat the pronoun until the end of line.
- (telefon buruk)
- The last pupil can write the pronouns on the board.
Rationale:
Activity can help the pupils to memorize the pronoun.
Activity 3
Group activity
To learn the SVA
- Pupils sit in groups.
- I group, You group, We group, They group
- He group, She group, It group
- Teacher distribute a picture of person doing something to every group.
- Pupils practice in group.
- I swim, We run, She walks (Teacher can start with a phrase)
- After saying the phrase, pupils write down in their exercise book.
- The pictures can be rotated around.
- Even using the same pictures, teacher also can rotate the pronouns.
Rationale:
The focused activity will help the pupils to practice in a controlled context.
Give it a try, and tell me all about it!
