Cooperative teaching

You know, as the parent of three kids (2 in 8th grade, 1 in 10th), the biggest overall complaint about school is group work. The kids like to do activities, they HATE having to do them in groups. They are frustrated with other kids’ lack of understand of material, they are frustrated with the lack of direct instruction from the teacher, they feel that sometimes they are doing the work and not the “group”, they feel other group members don’t listen to their ideas—overall it is a disaster. I have 2 child who have no social issues and I have one child who has tremendous difficulties getting along with her peers. She lacks social understanding and she is rejected by 95% of kids.
So my advice—plan activities—don’t always rely on groups!!! Particularly math at the higher level—the group stuff interfers with learning for concrete and literal people. Middle school is the cruelest time for peer relations—watch out for kids like mine!
my two cents

Any games that involve math are awesome in teaching math. Buy games that use die that are many sided. I taught summer school one year to students who were at risk and we used all kind of games, but they liked doing math rather than just worksheets. Yahtzee, Uno, card games, or any other kind of games are useful just to practice basic skills, as well as social ones. If I can remember the publisher of the math games I bought I will let you know

Thanks for replying.
In your opinion, do you feel cooperative teaching is effecitve? I have had some reply and tell me that it has hurt her children who are middle school age. She says that her children end up doing all the work when it involves a group project.

Thanks, Karen