A teacher describes how he modified a cooperative learning approach featuring heterogeneous grouping for his elementary school class, covering setting up teams, teaching a lesson, managing the evaluation/scoring system, and the approach's pitfalls and benefits. A list of resources and suggestions are presented. (CB)

Creating a class book can be an effective way to stimulate early elementary students' creativity and self-expression. The six steps are to: introduce the project; create the story; decide who does what; get it down on paper; put it all together; and share the experience. (SM)

Describes one elementary teacher's strategies to help students learn spelling using cooperative learning groups. Mixed-ability groups of four children are established, and students take turns being the caller, recorder, reader, and checker. Students retain more because of the amount of repetition. A weekly classroom spelling schedule is presented.…

In today's world, the ability to work with others is essential, and cooperative learning can be a powerful teaching strategy to enhance interpersonal skills. The article describes nine essential steps for social skills success and discusses nonverbal and verbal social skills for group work. (SM)

Describes how an elementary teacher encouraged her students to read novels using cooperative group activities based on popular television shows. Students divided into groups, took different roles, read a novel, and made a presentation to the class. When they finished the novel, they selected a new activity. (SM)

This activity book includes across-the-curriculum activities with Olympic themes; a "cooperation relay" (four competitive team activities based on a cooperative learning model); highlights of African Americans' Olympic achievements; a poster on teamwork and activities based on the theme of keeping the Olympic torch alive; and a…

Examines the negative consequences of group grades in cooperative learning situations: they are unfair; they make report cards less meaningful; they undermine motivation; they convey the wrong message; they violate individual accountability; and they create parental resistance to cooperative learning. Alternative ideas for rewarding group efforts…

Describes how fourth graders, together with first graders, planned, wrote, and edited a book of recollections, opinions, personalized stories, and poems. The article discusses the interviews between the fourth and first grade students, the final editing and production of the book, and the publication party. (SM)