Case
Doesn't Work Well with Others

In my internship we had the students doing partner work. My CT went around and chose partners for everyone. One student refused to work with another, so he was given the choice of either working with the student and being able to use a computer to complete their project, or he could do the project by himself on paper. The student chose to work by himself. The next class period I had pulled him for small group. He refused to participate because he was sad that he couldn't work with who he wanted. On top of that the student he didn't want to work with was in the small group too. I tried talking about how that wasn't very nice to say that, but he continued to mope for the entire lesson. Could I have done anything differently?

Posted on: 10/04/16 | Views: 1100
Solution #1
Top Solution
There should be a balance between letting students choose and encouraging students to work collaboratively. Social interaction is an important skill to help students build, but forcing students to be social can have the opposite effect. Instead of having lessons that require group or partner activity the entire lesson, use lessons that have short bursts of partner discussion or mini-activities. Reinforce student interaction until the student is more comfortable with working collaboratively.

If I were in this situation I would do exactly this.

I think this solution is a great start to help the student learn hoe to work in a teamwork/ group setting, because it is something he can't avoid for long. But introducing it will definitely be helpful.

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Solution #2
I believe the best place to start would be to have a private conversation with the student. For cases such as these, it is important to find out if their are any underlying causes for the students behavior.
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Solution #3
There might be an underlying issue between the students so I would try finding out why the student doesn't want to work with the other maybe try to mediate a compromise. Maybe just give the students different partners.
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Solution #4
Talk to the student about how in real life we work with many types of people we don't always get to choose who we want to work with. You can use behavior clips or colors if he refuses to participate. He can be given an alternative assignment to group work with a note home.
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Solution #5
If you allow him to work by himself once, it sets the tone for rest of the year that he doesn't have to work with people he doesn't want to. I would go into repair mode and have him start creating better bonds with his peers by starting with small group games and then slowly transitioning into classwork co-op groups.
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Solution #6
I find it very strange that the student is refusing to work with this one student out of the others. I would try to get to the bottom of that issue and hopefully find a resolution to the problem from there.
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Solution #7
Talk to the student and let them know what the issue is and why it is an issue. Does the student have a disability (such as autism)that makes social interactions an issue? If not, then I would not let the student rule you. You are the teacher and the student needs to learn how to work with others. This will only do the student some good and prepare them for real life.
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Solution #8
You should have a private conversation with that student. But you want to make sure the student understands that somethings aren't negotiable. You want to encourage the student while also implementing your rules.
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Solution #9
Explain to him that he is not the teacher and you are the rule maker in the classroom. If he wants to work with his choice of partner next time he better participate and cooperate in the current lesson. Also it may need to be addressed at home because he clearly doesn't respect you as the teacher so id call home as well.
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Solution #10
Hi, I think that addressing the student behavior was a good thing to do; however the student seem to not care. It would have been good to know the grade, so I could give suggestions more adequate for the student and this case.
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Solution #11
It is important to let the student know that this time is meant for learning purposes and not for social purposes, exclusively. This time is meant for students to learn from other students. Different students have different perspectives, which may help that student out in the long run.
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Solution #12
talk!
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