Key Questions and Comments 
​Mrs. Merritt uses a number of different cooperative learning strategies in her lesson.  Notice how this variation allows students of varying abilities to find success.

These strategies could be effective in other subject areas as well.  Can you think of ways that you could integrate some of these learning activities into your classroom?

Notice one of the major benefits of cooperative learning- the teacher has the ability to walk around the room and check in on all of the different groups separately and address any concerns.  

This lesson builds student independence as it progresses.  Mrs. Merritt has designed the activities so that students can learn the material with the help of others and then display their own learning at the end.  

Students enjoy working with each other but it does take time to build in community and the expectations for this to successful.  What types of activities do you think the teacher completed earlier this year to create this kind of environment?