Tracey K Hurst

ECHS Guidebook - Making Collaborative Groups Work! Tracey K Hurst

Collaborative Group Work is a necessary component of K-12 education and designed to help students be college and career ready. Multiple researchers including Johnson, Johnson, and Stanne (2000) found that students achieve greater mastery of content than do individuals who work alone. Employers around the globe are looking for smart, young minds that are willing and able to work BOTH independently and with others to create knowledge, solve problems, and continue to contribute to the accelerated advancements in the 21st Century. But teachers and administrators will tell you that implementation of group work in classrooms varies widely. This book is designed for the students to read in order to learn their role in the group dynamic. As a teacher, administrator, consultant, and parent, I truly believe that empowering the students with both the tools and the rationale (or the 'why' we're doing this), we can maximize the potential for learning in collaborative group settings. Early College High Schools that use the book with the full cohort will find that instructional coherence is much more easily attainable. By using this book to set the stage, teachers will be able to spend more time on their content. The book covers the importance of norms, how to successfully interact with peers, mentors, and teachers, as well as tips on being adaptable and organized. Ownership of Learning and the importance of transitioning to college classes are fully covered. Chapters on electronic tools and in-class protocols will provide structures to guide all students as they grow in the area of collaboration. This edition is designed for Early College High School students. The middle school version should be available August 15, 2016 and the high school version shortly thereafter.