While reading chapters one and two of Gibbons this week I found her thoughts and words on the importance of group work extremely interesting. I am in a kindergarten classroom for field placement and reading this made me realize that my CT does not have her class participate in much group work. I am wondering if this is simply because of how young the students are or if it is something else. Personally I believe that even though the students are young they should be at the very least starting to talk and interact with each other on assignments.
I also found it interesting that one of the tasks in making group work effective is having the students talk. Again, not much group is done in my CT's classroom and even when the students are working on their assignments at their assigned tables talking is not always allowed. I had never realized the lack of group work in this kindergarten class until reading the in depth look at the importance of it in chapter two.
After reading and wondering why my CT does not have her class interact in group work, I am definitely going to ask her for her thoughts on group work and what she thinks she does to apply this important concept into her classroom.
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I completely agree with your belief that students should begin engaging in group activity from a very young age. It is so important that students are involved in activities and assessments that incorporate talking. This is so crucial in developing fundamental language skills (especially in the case of second language learners) and in turn social skills that are necessary in furthering the students' education.
ReplyDeleteI also find it odd that your corresponding teacher does not use very much group work in the classroom, and wonder what some of her reasons may be for doing so. Perhaps she is in a position where she feels that her students are not capable of interacting in a systematic manner and she feels that engaging in such activity is in turn ineffective. It could be a combination of many reasons, but in my opinion and based on Gibbons it is very important component in regards to students truly building literacy and language skills.
I am curious to hear what your CT has to say in regards to her own thoughts on group work and the use of group work within the classroom, both as a means of student interaction and as an assessment.