Kagan Cooperative Learning

Chapter 9

Approach

Five Aims of Classbuilding 1. Getting Acquainted

2. Class Identity Building

3. Mutual Support

4. Valuing Differences

5. Developing Synergy

Getting Acquainted Promotes the idea that classmates are real people

with real feelings.

Breaks down superficial barriers.

Reduces cliques

The basic needs of feeling important, being liked, and belonging are met.

Structures and Activities for Getting Acquainted

Find Someone Who

People Hunt

Similarity Groups

Inside-Outside Circle

Class Projects

Birthday Calendar

Formations

Class Bar Graphs

Linkages

Fact-or-Fiction

Fact Bingo

Round Robin

Gesture-Name-Game

All About Me

Class Line-Ups

Mix-Pair-Share

Class Identity Building Goal is for students to feel that their class is unique.

Promote the feeling of being a proud member of the class.

Create distinguishing identity through projects:

Class Name

Class Logo

Class Song or Chant

Structures and Activities for Class Identity Building

Class Name

Class Logo, Banner, Mural

Class Door

Team Mosaic: Divide door into sections and have each team design a section.

Class Song

Student Wall

Student profile sheet turn into bulletin board.

Class Web Site

Class Books

Classroom Signals

Class Mission Statement

Mutual Support Mutual support builds trust among the students in

the class.

Promotes interdependence with in the classroom.

Structures and Activities for Mutual Support

Hidden Helpers

Students receive a secret pal and do something nice for them during the week. No material gifts.

Ticket Agents

Assign two students to handout tickets for positive behavior.

Chain of Friendship

Students report positive behavior to the teacher. The teacher gives the student a colored link to add to the class chain.

Class Party

Brainstorm what makes a good party. Have students sign up to bring items. After party reflect on what would happen if we didn’t each do our part.

Mutual Support Continued Mix-Freeze-Group

Who Am I?

Service Learning Projects

Valuing Differences Celebrate Diversity

Students need to understand that our classroom values differences.

Through our diversity we create a richer classroom environment.

Structures and Activities for Valuing Differences

Corners

Agree-Disagree Line Ups

Developing Synergy Synergy in a group allows the group to produce and

learn more than if the student is working independently.

Synergy must be present to fully engage in the cooperative process.

Structures and Activities for Developing Synergy

Circle-the Sage

Several students are selected as the expert of a topic (the sage). All other students will sit with the sage and learn from the expert. The students take notes then report back to their original group.

Formations

Geometric Forms

Imaginary Machine

Structures and Activities for Developing Synergy

Class Projects

Approach

Class Restructuring Class Meetings

Function: plan event, solve problems, improve class functioning, and provide mutual support.

Structure: Hold regular meetings each week.

Agenda: Items must be on agenda prior to meeting. The teacher has ultimate decision power about agenda items.

Student Planning: Give students the opportunity to run certain aspects of the meetings.

Class Meetings Continued Schedule:

Begin with announcements

Problem solving

Event planning

End with a mutual support activity

Student Input: During problem solving use a structure that will allow all students to see each others responses.

Suggestion/Appreciation Box: Gives each student an opportunity to have input. Share during the class meeting.

Setting a Positive Class Tone Activities that enhance the

class climate:

Arts/Crafts

Board Games

Class Goals

Humor/Jokes

Parties

Silly Sports and Goofy Games

Student Ownership:

Student Bulletin Boards

Student Jobs

Student Government

Student Committees

Reward/Celebrations

Choice of Centers/Activities

Student Evaluations

“The two approaches described in this chapter are different. But the outcome for both is the same: creating a cooperative, caring community of learners where everyone wants to be and learn.”

~ Kagan Cooperative Learning