Not every classroom has the space for many segmented areas to be used for specific activities. Instead, consider creating a classroom collaboration center that can be used for small group work, teacher and student one-on-one time, and flexible seating spaces. Check out these ideas for setting up, organizing, and utilizing your collaboration center.
Teaching Students to Use the Classroom Collaboration Center
Teamwork and genuine collaboration take practice, and some students will benefit from short practice sessions and modeling. One tip is to divide your students into small groups and assign them a small task or project to work on together. Then have each group get together in the collaboration center (one at a time) to work on the project for a short period of time.
Use this first time in your classroom collaboration center to highlight positive teamwork behaviors and let the group on deck watch how the previous group is getting started. During this modeling time, students can learn more about how to avoid making mistakes when collaborating and how to cooperate as a team when trying to incorporate every member’s ideas.
Here are some fun teamwork anchor charts ideas from other teachers, as well as an anchor chart template you can use for your own creation!
Keeping Your Collaboration Center Clutter-Free
Different projects and unique groups of students require tools and supplies to complete their tasks. Of course, some activities require very specific tools and supplies. But when assigning an open-ended teamwork task, offer a wide range of supplies to boost creativity.
Creating a collaboration center that is prepared for open-ended problem-solving and group activities means getting organized. Check out these tools for organizing a classroom collaboration center and keeping it clutter-free!
Teacher Favorite Tools for Classroom Collaboration Projects
Collaboration projects are a great way to help students learn to communicate effectively and work as a team to accomplish a task. Team-oriented projects are easier to start with these teacher favorite tools.
More Inspiration & Ideas
Are you looking for more ideas and ways to bring collaboration and teamwork into your classroom this year? Check out the hundreds of other articles on The Schoolyard and the thousands of exciting products and tools available through the School Specialty online store. Be sure to stop by the Back to School category page to see what’s new!
[…] but also by eliminating individual work with group tables becoming the forum for discussions on collaboration and “consensus“, with a grade assigned to the individual partly for the group work but […]