Team-Based Learning

The introduction phase of school is winding down, and the academic focus is now beginning in the second week of school.  Last week was spent focusing on working together in homeroom, social activities, and academic endeavors.  7th graders at CMS spent time getting to know each other in community building activities during orientation the first day of school.  They worked together as a class and in small groups to share commonalities and differences, focusing on respecting each other for the individuals they are.  In addition, starting with small groups, all students worked on creating a set of school-wide agreements for behavior and social interaction, culminating in a Social Constitution on Friday.   Many homerooms will implement Circles of Power and Respect (CPR) once or twice a week to further work on social development.

In math, the focus was on being a 'Best Investigation Team'.   A Best Investigation Team is one that has every team member doing outstanding Problem work.   That means by the end of the investigation, every team member has all the Problems complete, and all responses are in complete sentences.  Through the Helium Stick activity, students learned that it is not enough just to lookout for oneself, but a successful team has good communication, cooperation, strong leadership, and a plan to reach a goal.  Teams exhibited those team-focused characteristics were able to lower the stick to the floor with each team member's index finger in constant contact with the bottom of the stick.

Investigation teams are created based on a secretly coded system of colors, where students chosing someone from another color to group with.  This creates groups of students with varying math abilities (as determined by the 'Algebraic Relationships' or the 'Geometry' goals on last spring's MAP test).  Prior to grouping, we discussed other strengths each individual could bring to the team, such as:  organization, getting everyone involved, keeping track of the time, understanding directions, etc.  Students were encouraged to pair up with someone with a strength that was different from their own.

Best Investigation Teams will be posted on the class wiki at the conclusion of each investigation. 

Links:
Team-Based Learning
Videos of A Typical Classroom Period
Beloit's CMP Parent Site
CMP's Parent Site
Developmental Designs Family Information sheet