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    elementary students in the classroom working together for a group work collaboration activity

    Organization & Storage

    Creating a Classroom Collaboration Center for Group Work & Activities

    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!

    anchor chart idea for teamwork and classroom collaboration
    What Is Teamwork from Cassie Dahl
    classroom anchor chart concept
    What Is Quality Work from The Teacher Studio
    classroom anchor chart template idea
    Anchor Chart Template from The Thinker Builder

    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!

    4 plastic postal totes in different colors for classroom organization
    Flipside Plastic Storage Postal Totes, Assorted Colors, Set of 4
    storex storage caddies in 6 assorted colors
    Storex 3 Compartment Supplies Caddy, Assorted Colors, Set of 6
    colorful letter size storage trays
    School Smart Letter Size Storage Trays, Assorted Colors, Set of 5
    teacher storage cart with a legal size caddy to hold files and supplies
    School Smart Folding Storage Cart with Caddy, Legal Size
    rolling classroom cart with 3 colorful drawers
    Rolling Cart with 3 Drawers, Assorted Colors
    mobile classroom organization cart with 12 colorful drawers
    Mobile Organizer with 12 Drawers, Assorted Colors

    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.

    letter size hardboard clipboard
    School Smart Letter Size Clipboard, Hardboard with Bright Nickel Clip
    colorful felt tip pens
    School Smart Felt Tip Pens, Fine Tip, Assorted Colors, Pack of 8
    colorful highlighters
    School Smart Highlighters, Chisel Tip, Assorted Colors, Pack of 6

    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!

    Read More: Back to School

    Tagged With: Group Activities & Games, Teacher Must-Haves

    Trackbacks

    1. Don’t Color Outside of The Lines – Gem State Patriot News says:
      at

      […] 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 […]

      Reply

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