Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
Student Engagement: Motivation Through Cooperative Learning
Professional Action Research Team Goal
- To improve student engagement and motivation through cooperative learning
- Use strategies that engage and motivate students through the development of cooperative skills where there are multiple opportunities to interact with peers
Resources
- Austin ISD Social and Emotional Learning Standards at the Elementary Level: 4th grade
- SEL Professional Development: Using SEL in the Physical Education Gym
- CASEL: Instructional Strategies that Promote Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Self-Assessment Cooperation and Effort Rubic http://www.tpsnva.org/teach/lq/003/pdfs/self_ass.pdf
- Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov for grades K-12: "Turn and Talk"
Self-Assessment Cooperation and Effort Rubric
PRE PART & POST PART DATA
THE STRATEGIES
Instructional Strategies that Promote SEL tool 33 & Using Social Emotional Learning
Implementation: SEL short checklist for effective classroom instructional strategies for teaching, modeling and reinforcing social and emotional competencies.
Outcome: Build positive relationships with other students and teachers and learn cooperative learning skills.
- Established greetings with each student as they entered the classroom.
- Starting a lesson with open ended questions and ask "What do you think?" rather than "Why?" questions to stimulate divergent thinking.
- Introduce new skills and information providing clear and concise instructions and model tasks when appropriate and offering students the right to pass to honor different learning styles.
- Prepare students for guided practice modeling before asking students to practice and apply new skills and knowledge
- Managing discipline, enforcing the ground rules and classroom agreements consistently. Handle problems quickly and discreetly and encourage students to discuss solutions rather than blame others.
Teaching Core Competencies
Theory: The purpose of this activity was to access each others strengths and limitations, practice empathy skills, process and manage emotions and solve problems.
Outcome: Maintain positive relationships with other students and adults, learn responsible decision making skills and practice empathy and self awareness among classmates. Demonstrate awareness of personal qualities and has a sense of personal responsibility.
Peace Area Materials and Guidelines
- Using the peace area is voluntary.
- The teacher gives permission to use the peace area.
- A student who is upset can request to spend time in the peace area. Two students who want tor resolve a problem can request time in the peace area.
- Set a time limit in the peace area. It is used for problems that can be solved in 5 minutes or less. The goal is for students to return to regular classroom activity as soon as possible.
- The teacher will check with the student afterward to debrief and make sure the issue was resolved.
P.E. Peace Area Pie Chart
Peace Are in the Art Room
Emotions Poster and Peace Poster in the Gym
- Chairs, beanbags, table
- Student feelings artwork
- Stuffed toys, lamp, stressball
- Books on conflict
- Sand timer
- Sand timer or other measurement tools
- Paper
- Pens, pencils, markers, crayons
- Sign in sheet to monitor
Turn and talk strategy
Implementation: Students have the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas in a very low risk setting. Talking with a peer allows them to use language that is close to where their level is-making it less difficult to express their idea or thought. Strategy works if partners are strategically placed in close proximity to each other sharing ideas and respecting each others turn to talk. Students will ask questions and model certain ideas if asked to do so. Students will know a return signal that will allow them to wrap up conversations and return to their seats.
Outcome: Build positive learning relationships with peers and teachers, recognize responsibility and make constructive decisions..
NEXT STEPS
Palm Elementary School
Email: palmelementary@austinisd.org
Website: austinisd.org
Location: 7601 Dixie Drive, Austin, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 414-2545