Week # 1

1.  What did I learn?

I learned that it is very important to have students share their thinking with one another.  Shared thinking gives students the opportunity to share what they know (teach) to other students.  Explaining their thinking to other students will help them solidify the process in their own minds as well - they will be learning as they teach others.  Students also need to be paying attention to their classmates and be able to rephrase what they hear - which makes them accountable for their own learning.  Students need to make sure that everyone at their table understands, and can explain, the material.  They are in a sense, learning how to care for others.

2.  What do I have questions about?

What would the cons be to using co-operative games?

3.  What are the implications for classroom practice?

Providing students with the opportunity to voice their own way of thinking/strategizing puts them in control of their learning.  Knowing that they are helping to lead the discussion makes them pay closer attention to what is going on, so they are more accountable, confident, and invested in their own learning and their classmates as well.