Just about everyone loves the "idea" of cooperative learning, children working productively and excitedly in groups, everyone getting along and enthusiastically helping one another learn. This article presents five strategies that teachers can use to get the greatest benefit possible from cooperative learning and ensure that collaboration enhances learning. They are: (1) Form interdependent teams--composed of diverse students who care about helping one another learn; (2) Set group goals--a target, product, or indicator, that shows a team has done a good job of getting every member to perform at his or her personal best; (3) Ensure individual accountability--all team members must master the targeted content or skills; (4) Teach communication and problem-solving skills--team members need to know how to make good use of the opportunity to work with one another; and (5) Integrate cooperative learning with other structures-- effective class lessons might also include teacher instruction, media-or computer-based activities, and individual assessments of various kinds. Research finds that if teachers make the five elements discussed here part of group learning, students learn more, feel more successful, love school, and enjoy the subject they're studying.