Win-Win Management for Cooperative Classrooms

Research has found that especially gifted teachers don’t focus on discipline, but the students are busily engaged in learning!!

• Class Meetings • Signals

• Room Arrangement / Content

• Procedures and Routines

• Parents as Partners

Benefits of the Class Meeting

• Democratic Decision Making• Students obtain a sense of control• Fosters mutual respect and caring• Students and teachers feel support• Problems and Issues are aired and problem solving skills

are learned• Teacher and Students are on the Same Side

Agenda for all Class Meetings

• Announcements

• Appreciation / Inspirations

• Suggestions / Problem Solving

• Evaluating Progress

• Planning

• Mutual Support Activity

Appreciations

• Rotating basis, different students read the contents of the appreciation box.

• A box with a slot on the top is always available with appreciation slips

• Students can deposit appreciation slips, poetry, catch others being good notes, or inspirational quotes

• Only read on Fridays

Suggestions / Problem Solving• A Box labeled suggestions with a slot on the top is always available

with suggestion slips

• Suggestions are signed, but may not be revealed• Teachers may “filter” suggestions

• During the problem solving phase of the class meeting, suggestion slips are placed in three piles: To Be Solved Now, To Be Solved in a Later Class Meeting, and To Be Solved By Individuals Involved

• Teacher serves as the first facilitator and students rotate in when teacher feels they are ready

• To solve problems, teachers could use Placemat Consensus, Dot-The-Wall, Fist to Five, Jot Thoughts, Proactive Prioritizing, or Spend –a-Buck

• This is done only once per week

Evaluation

• Time is taken to evaluate decisions made at prior class meetings

• A great opportunity to bring up forgotten rules or suggestions, as well as solutions that are working well.

Example: Early in the year, the class made a poster on how we want our class to be. Evaluation time is used periodically throughout the year to revisit and modify the poster if necessary

Planning

• Can be used for developing solutions to problems, working on classroom committees, and talking about upcoming field trips or projects

• Committees always report back to the whole. Talking Chips is a great structure to use during committee discussions.

Possible Commitees: Safety, Fundraisers, Sunshine, Classroom Beautification, Homework Help

Building Blocks of An Effective Class Meetings

• Form a Circle • Practice Compliments and Appreciations• Create an Agenda• Develop Communication Skills• Recognize reasons people do what they

do ( positions )• Focus on non-punitive solutions• Role Playing and Brainstorming

Signals

• Allows the teacher to have a busy, animated classroom and bring the class back in seconds

• Teachers can let students know about instructional needs

• Students can signal to a teacher they need help, and continue working

• Ask for bathroom break without interrupting the class

• Teacher can signal students to control behaviors without escalating emotions

Room Content

• Graffiti Board – a designated place where students can draw, or write..with ground rules

• Feedback Board / Folders

• Cool Down Area

• Furniture arranged to allow for classbuilders and brain breaks

• Sponge Area

• Agendas / Expectations / Calendar / and Reminders posted

Room Arrangement

• Interior Loops for Teacher Navigation

• Each student should be equal distance from each teammate and all should be angled toward the board

• Put tape marks on floor so desks can be moved back and forth for solo and cooperative activities

• Student room roles posted

Procedure and Routine Hints

• Clothespin Count File Folder System• Make Up Work Folders• Bellringer Every Day• Room Roles• Supply Cabinet with Promissory Notes• Team Boxes or Bins w/cooperative learning supplies• 6-inch voice• Line Up by Teams• Snack• Water Allowed

Parents as Partners

• Welcome Letter – be sure to inform parents that you teach in a cooperative classroom and what that may look like

• Welcome Phone call with Frequent Communication

• Class Home Page ( Wikis are so easy!!)• Portfolios / Student Work Fairs• Family Celebrations• Multiple Intelligences Homework

Remember:

• Brain Breaks

• Teambuilding

• Classbuilding

• Team Formation

Research ( and not just Kagan reseach shows)…..

• Classrooms who use cooperative learning structures, differentiated instruction, and have high engagement have very little discipline concerns…

“ If you want to see a rainbow, you might get wet” - Dolly Parton