Promoting Effective Group Work in the Primary Classroom

Description

Packed with valuable strategies for teachers and fun activities for children, this book is a must for any school wishing to make group work a more effective and successful way of learning. Teachers who have become more confident with the approaches developed for this book find that their classes are better behaved, children spend more time on task and they become less dependent on the teacher.

The book shows teachers how to create an inclusive and supportive classroom by developing the social, communicative and group working skills of all pupils. Tried-and-tested, step-by-step approaches encourage both children and their teachers to develop supportive relationships that have been found to facilitate academic performance, positive social behaviour and motivation. Strategies for setting up and running effective group work are a key feature of the book.

Contents

Part 1: Developing group work in your classroom 1.Background to the handbook 2.Introduction – The case for group work 3.How is your classroom organised? 4.Preparing the classroom for successful group work 5.Developing pupils’ group work skills 6.Creating effective group work activities and tasks 7.The role of the teacher and other adults in supporting group work 8.Evaluating group work 9.Using group work in the curriculum 10.Troubleshooting: resolving common group work problems Part 2: Group work and training activities for your class 1.Group work and group work rules 2.Sensitivity and awareness 3.Developing trust 4.Sensitivity, respect and sharing views 5.Becoming a good listener 6.Listening, asking questions and giving instructions 7.Helping skills 8.Group discussion: giving reasons and weighing up ideas 9.Group discussion: making suggestions and speculating 10.Group discussion: reaching a consensus 11.More decision making: consensus and compromise 12.Roles within group work 13.Planning group work

Author Bio

Ed Baines is Lecturer in Psychology and Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.

Peter Blatchford is Professor in Psychology and Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, UK.

Peter Kutnick is Professor in Psychology and Education at King’s College, London, UK.

Related Subjects

1. Classroom Practice
2. Teaching & Learning
3. Initial Teacher Training
4. Primary/Elementary Education
5. Classroom Management & Organisation
6. Teaching Assistants
7. Teaching & Learning