“COLLABORATE…THEN CELBRATE”

“Cooperative learning focuses on having students interact with each other in groups in ways that enhance their learning. When students work in cooperative groups, they make sense of, or construct meaning for, new knowledge by interacting with others”.

Citation: Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 139-154.

 I work as a Career & Technology teacher at a low income, at risk, second chance Charter School for students who have either got kicked out of their zoned high school, promoted from 8^th grade to High School only if they transfer, are currently pregnant, have had a child or children already, or is required by court to attend school or get locked up for habitual truancy issues. Needless to say, I love my position. I think that my position poses as a guidance counselor, a peer coach, a parole officer, a listening friend, a principal, a mentor, and a cop because our students come from all walks of like looking for something; searching for “that thing” that will make it all make sense to them. I refer to it as an epiphany but students like to call it “a light bulb”. Having the ability to sit with their peers and discuss real-world, project- based knowledge and actually be heard is rewarding to all students. They are able to express themselves and discuss their perceptions and views of everything while relating it back to their selves, which is when it makes the most sense. I believe this is when learning takes place. This is when it doesn’t matter to me where I work, or what nay-sayers think of my place of employment. This is when it doesn’t matter what type of student they were at their old school or how long they had to sit in jail. This is when I am able to look past all their flaws and indiscretions and embrace the joys I feel as a High School Teacher—preparing to make a difference in someone else’s life. We can’t afford to focus on only the issues that our students are faced with. We must work to push through those issues by showing them that working in a collaborative group setting is necessary and is fundamental for everyone involved. Just as we are doing right now, in this class; having the ability to converse with other educators about how we could all make a huge impact on student success rate.