How can you reinforce the rules?
Using praise is more productive than continually highlighting poor behaviour. During
group work it is better to reinforce the good behaviours, for example:
‘Well done, Gary. You are listening carefully to others.’
‘I can see you have nearly completed the work. You must have stayed
on-task well.’
‘Your group has listened to one another and that helped you complete the
task with a good set of results.’Using the plenary for reflection
The plenary is not only a time when the results of the group task can be presented
to the whole class but also one when pupils can be encouraged to reflect.
Reflecting on talk helps to develop thinking and learning. A carefully planned plenary
can provide effective opportunities for reflection, particularly when pupils are provided
with appropriate vocabulary. A list of useful ‘talk’ words can be found below.
Reflecting on the processes involved in working as a group is also important. It is
useful to start by asking a relatively successful group to explain what they thought
helped their discussion to go well; what problems there were, if any; and how they
overcame them.
To develop pupils’ evaluative strategies further, one member of each group could
be appointed to observe ways in which a group works together. Using a simple
guide list devised by pupils, the observer watches and listens as the group works.
At the end of the session, each member of the group writes a short evaluation of
their own contribution to the group which can then be compared with the
observer’s evaluation in the plenary.
Some useful vocabulary for talk
opinion agreement relevant argument assertionalternatives challenge discussion reason criticalrespect information thinking dialogue idea
togethersharing group justify propose summarisesupport oppose explanation suggestion evaluatesynthesise clarify modify consider contribute© Crown copyright 2004
DfES 0433-20047 | Key Stage 3 National Strategy|Pedagogy and practice
Unit 10: Group work