Small+Group+Learning


 * add how to train them to work in small groups for high stakes****



===Many times during the semester, the students will be working in small groups. These will enhance the learning experience for them and allow them to learn and understand new content from different perspectives. Group work is especially important in social studies because the enduring concepts they take away from the class will be the ones that need to be discussed with other people. The group work will help mold the students' opinions by making them more confident in their ideas and it will teach them to evaluate different opinion. The students will be in groups for discussion questions, inquiry/research, projects, and evaluating primary documents. Participating in group work will add to their understanding and skill development.===

__How Groups Will Be Formed__:
Groups will be decided by the teacher. Students' personalities and previous academic performance will be taken into account in order to create groups that will work well together and that help each student's grades improve. The groups will be changed each 9 week term and previous group learning performance will assist in reassigning groups. Throughout the year, I will attempt to make sure the students are not grouped with the same students over and over. If a student has a problem with another student in their group, they have the opportunity to meet with me outside of class time to explain their concerns. If I feel their reasons are legitimate, they will be reassigned.

__How Groups Will Function__:

 * Each group will usually have 4 students. The classroom will be set up into the groups so the desks all face each other.[[image:http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5Rs3DDmziZk/Tjh9UZ15TkI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/jYIlQwOsvRM/2011-08-02_11-56-30_604%25255B4%25255D.jpg width="342" height="242"]]

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 * Each student in the group will have a role they are responsible for fulfilling during each class period. I will assign their roles periodically through the 9 week term so they each have the chance to perform each role.
 * Leader - This student is responsible for leading the group the day's activities. They will begin discussion and keep the group on track. They will be in charge of making sure each group member is doing their part of the project. The leader will also be given other jobs that a deemed necessary by the teacher during the class.
 * Supplies Manager - This student is responsible for gathering supplies for the group for the days activities such as atlases, colored pencils, and supplementary materials.
 * Question Master - This student is responsible for asking questions from the entire group. After they ask each person in their group the questions, only this student may raise their hand to ask the teacher.
 * Note Taker - This student is responsible for writing down instructions by the teacher and ideas the group comes up with during discussions.
 * For each individual assignment, the students will do peer evaluations on each other work to make sure they are following the rubric and understand the material. The students will also be responsible for making sure each member of their group understands the objective for the day. If each member of the group scores an 80% or higher on each quiz for the chapter, they will recieve 2 bonus points on their chapter test.


 * In order to make sure the students are participating in the group work, every two weeks, the students will complete a group processing worksheet where they will anonymously evaluate the other members of the group based on their participation and contribution.



__Grading__:
The students will be graded individually for their independent work. For group work, the project or assignment's grade:
 * 80% - The entire group will recieve the same amount of points based on the rubric for the assignment or project.
 * 20% - Each student's participation will be monitered and lack of contribution or participation will deduct points form the participation portion of the grade.