The Holocaust
English Class - Mrs. L. Dieguez
The Importance of Group Work
Few of us act alone in the real world. Most things are done with the help or ideas of
other people. Group projects are great practice for high school, college, and real life,
when you will probably have a job that requires working with others. Group projects also
give you a chance to get to know kids you might not otherwise know or talk with.
Group projects are also a great way to practice skills you're not so sure of. For example:
working on a deadline, staying organized, or being patient. And if you're a little nervous
talking in front of a group, a joint project can help you become more comfortable with it.
Steps for a great teamwork project
1. Getting Started
One of the most important things about group work is talking and meeting together. It's a
good idea to continually check with everybody on their progress and to see if anyone
needs help. Here are some other tips for making group work really work.
You might think the first step is figuring out who will do what, but actually it's getting to
know one another a little. Take a few minutes to chat. Even if you know each other well,
it can help to take a minute to think about your skills and share your strengths and
weaknesses.
The second step is to go over ground rules from your teacher and any that you want to
create together as a group (for example, how the group will help people who are behind
on their work). Will all of your meetings be in class? Do you need to plan time to work
together outside of school? Now's the time to talk about it.
2. Focusing on Fairness
Figuring out individual jobs within the group is a really important part of the process. One
of the most common pitfalls of group work is that someone may end up doing all the
work if the rest of the team can't quite get it together. From the beginning, it's important
to divide the work fairly and evenly. If you feel like you or another kid is doing too much,
gently bring it up with the group. If nothing changes, you might want to talk with your
teacher.
3. Holding Good Meetings
One key to a good meeting is having a leader, who should help the group
stay focused.
And try not to play any of these negative roles:
The non-participant does not contribute and/or discourages the others.
"Captain Critical" responds to other people's ideas with criticism.
The dominator talks more than listens and interrupts.
The clown distracts the group and keeps it from focusing on the work.
4. If Problems Arise
Just as it takes work to complete your project, it also takes work to make a group
successful. Maybe you can’t stand the way one group member always talks over other
people, or you're sick of one of your group members being a non-participant. The best
approach is to try to talk about the problems, in a nice way.
Bring your concerns up gently with the group as a whole. (It's a bad idea to whisper to a
few group members to try to get back-up. A good group requires honesty and everyone's
involvement.) Again, If you can’t solve these problems on your own, talk to your
teacher.
A word on parental involvement. It's natural to ask your mom or dad for help on a big
project. It's fine if they give you advice and encouragement. But it's not OK for them to
do the actual work for you. They shouldn't do your research or write the letters on your
poster — even if they can do it perfectly. A project, like other homework, is to help you
learn by doing.
If a parent is too involved, bring it up with your teacher or with the group as a whole.
Usually, group projects end with a presentation to the class. Then, the teacher gives
your project a grade. If you cooperate and do your best, you just might be sharing an
"A"!
