Teams Not Clicking Yet? Why Collaboration Is Worth the Wait

This is normal

Many very successful teachers say their teams don’t run smoothly until two or three months into the school year.

Why the hard work of team building pays off

• Social support for learning math
• Success for more students
• Chances to see and discuss multiple approaches
• More meaningful learning through discussion and explanation
• Better mastery of basic skills
• Greater mathematical exploration and creativity

What research says about collaborative problem solving

Research shows that collaborative problem solving in the math classroom leads to:

• Higher achievement
• Better retention
• Greater use of higher-level reasoning
• Greater intrinsic motivation
• More positive relationships among diverse students
• Higher self-esteem
• More on-task behavior
• Better attitudes toward teachers and school
• Greater social support
• More positive psychological adjustment
• Stronger collaborative skills

This way of teaching can be challenging, but it brings many rewards as the year goes on. Keep up the good work!

Find more support in your eBook

On the Teacher tab, open Team Support for:

• Using Study Teams
• Teacher Interaction
• Organizing the Classroom
• Working in Teams, and more