Invite Diligent Learning

Skill: Effectively using group work in the classroom.

What is my initial understanding or ability? (Assessment)

• How often do you invite your students to participate in group work?

• What do you do to help them have a successful experience?

What is it and why is it important? (Define):

Effective group work in a classroom happens when learners work together in small groups to explore, discuss, and deepen their understanding of gospel principles. By engaging in group work, learners can enhance their ability to explain, share, and testify of gospel truths to each other. The following guidelines should be considered when developing group work activities:

1. Form groups.

2. Provide clear objectives (tell why you want them to gather and the amount of time they have).

3. Share what they are to do.

4. Assign roles and responsibilities within the group.

5. Encourage communication.

6. Move around the groups to monitor progress, offer guidance, and ensure that learners stay on task.

7. When invited, groups share what they have learned with the whole class.

Note: This is a large skill with many smaller skills embedded. It might be helpful to practice each of these seven steps individually.

Who or what provides a good illustration of this? (Model):

Sister Jones would like to help her students gather in small groups to discuss Matthew 11:28–30. She organizes the class into three small groups of four students each and asks one student in each group to be the leader. She gives each group a piece of paper with the instructions and tells them they have six minutes. Sister Jones encourages the students to share openly with each other. As she walks around, she can tell if the students are following the instructions and she course corrects where needed.

How can I practice using this skill or applying this principle? (Practice):

Look at an upcoming lesson and find a place where you want your students to work in groups. Look at your class roll and divide your class into groups. Determine the objective for the group activity, who the group leaders will be, and what you want them to do.

Ponder or discuss:

• What are you learning that can help you increase the effectiveness of group work in your class?

How and when will I incorporate this?

Using the activity you outlined above, or while preparing a different upcoming lesson, determine where you could use this skill. Continue to use the above guidelines as you plan group work activities in your lessons at the appropriate frequency.