"This fourth grade class and first grade class have been doing
activities all year. They went to El Rey Grocery Store too!"
Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning is an approach to teaching where lessons are
structured cooperatively (as opposed to individually or competitively) so
students work together to accomplish shared goals. Students are assigned
to small, heterogenous groups of three to four students. By discussing
assignments, conducting experiments, writing stories and reports, resolving
conflicts and reaching agreement, students learn important cooperative
skills at the same time they are mastering academic material. In a
cooperative learning situation, students' goal achievements are positively
correlated. Students perceive they can reach their learning goals if, and
only if, the other students in the learning group also reach their goals.
Cooperative learining benefits both high and low academic functioning
students. It provides an alternative to the competitive and
individualistic models and improves human relationships. Students come to
understand, value and respect diversity of background and talent through
experiencing how all members contribute to each other's success.
Cross Grade Grouping
Many older and younger classrooms work together on various projects
throughout the year, academically as well as socially. They maintain these
friendships throughout the year.
