We have been discussing the principles of Cooperative Learning, its characteristics and relations to Oral Skills. In addition to that, today I want to relate this approach to one of my main goals at teaching: the creation of classroom community. After some reading, I have discovered that these two concepts are closely related and that by implementing Cooperative learning, would easier to achieve the community I want in my classroom.
To make clearer this relationship, let me introduce you to the concept of Classroom community. According to Ambrose Panico and Laurie Frank (2007), Classroom Community is a way of practicing peaceful conflict resolution that might influence students’ attitudes inside and outside the classroom. For reaching this community, it is relevant to celebrate and value the contributions of each member of the group, encouraging cooperation and social relationships. Although the creation of these types of communities requires time and effort, the results of it will be reflected on students’ attitudes towards their partners, their teacher, their classroom, and their learning. For working on classroom community, I am constantly focused on students’ strengths and talents, empowering them to value themselves as significant members of a community.
Likewise, Classroom Community might be beneficial to address the challenging behaviors that were observed in the classroom. By implementing routines and tasks that promote the creation of a Classroom Community, students might start taking responsibility towards their own acts and the consequences of them in their community.
For me, the creation of a place where students will be able to interact and share with their partners in order to express themselves, but also to listen and understand others is essential. For this reason, building a classroom community is imperative in this project for achieving efficient cooperative work, but also for fostering Speaking Skills. David Levine (2003) asserts that a classroom community is the creation of an environment where students can feel emotionally and physically safe, understood, and supported. I aim to create a safe place for students to be themselves, listening to each other while working together. Therefore, every member of the community should have a role to play based on their talents and skills just as the roles in CL, considering the importance of addressing the value of each member of the group and the importance of positive interdependence.
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