How can you foster the dynamic relationship between collaboration and cooperation in

your classroom while meeting the needs of each and every student? Specifically the gifted,
special needs, and EAL students.
Fostering a dynamic classroom through collaboration and cooperation can be extremely
difficult, but can be done through careful planning and implementation. Teachers can assign
groups based on their students abilities (strengths/ weaknesses). Dividing the class up into
groups with even numbers and by gender can also be beneficial for the groups cooperation and
sharing of ideas. Assigning each group member a role to be responsible for during the group
assignment can ensure that all group members have a task to complete. When implementing
these roles, it is important to ensure the students that just because they have a specific task
doesnt make this assignment an individual one that they still must work as a team.
Setting up the groups and organizing the class, is one part of collaboration and
cooperation but if there are no rules or guidelines for group members to follow, group work
usually becomes a disaster. Group work is only as good as the teacher sets it up to be, so it is
extremely important to teach kids how to behave in group situations. By having the students
create their own rules and guidelines, they will remember and abide by them more frequently
than the teacher putting up a poster of rules to follow.
Knowing how import and beneficial group work is for individuals who are coded, it is
important that as teachers we foster collaborative and cooperative group work in our classrooms.
Another way to foster and assess group work, is by having the students keep a working portfolio
of everything that each student completes. This way it ensures that each student has a part in the
group and that one individual isnt being left to complete the whole project. It will also show
how the group work was split up, that way for the next assignment the teacher can ensure that
students take on a different role so that the students are not always completing the same task (ex.
Note keeper).
Meeting the needs of each student in the classroom is a task in and of itself. To meet
these needs it will take time and special planning to ensure all these needs are met. If this
requires that different groups perform their presentation differently from the rest of the class then
it must be done. Stressing the importance of working together might be the most important
learning experience for coded learner like EAL learners who will learn a lot from their peers by
working in small groups. Getting to know each and every student in the class and their needs will
be most important when dividing students into groups. This will also determine what type of
project to assign to each group. Even pre determining roles in the group may be beneficial for
some types of learner. Not allowing the gifted student in the group to do all the work will be
difficult but will teach them the value of team work and working together.
All students are different therefore learn differently. Many things can be taught in groups,
such as cooperation, collaboration, and the important roles within a group experience. Group
work isnt for everyone but it can engage students to think more outside the box, and answer
deep questions more intensely. Students involved in group work have the opportunity to teach
and learn from one another which is extremely beneficial for students who are coded. Setting up
an environment for this type of learning to take place will be of most importance.