Middle school learning often includes group projects. One purpose of group projects is to learn how to work well with others, but your child may feel that just the opposite is happening.
Susan Mulcaire, a teacher, mother, and author of “
The Middle School Student’s Guide to Ruling the World,” recommends the following steps for participating successfully in group projects.
- Communicate with others in the group. Students should share e-mail addresses and phone numbers so they can communicate easily with each other and avoid “but they never told me” excuses.
- Appoint a project manager. This team member keeps a written record of everything the group decides and makes sure that every team member has a copy of the plan. The project manager also keeps the group focused during team meetings. However, this person’s job does not include bossing everyone else around.
- Share ideas. Group members should listen to each other’s suggestions and ideas without putting them down or letting one student take over the project’s direction.
- Plan carefully. At the first meeting, group members should review the entire project, which should include going over the teacher’s instructions, creating a schedule (being careful to include potential schedule busters such as sports practices, holidays, and so on), making a list of supplies, and finding out each member’s talents and skills.
- Define tasks. Group members need to know which part of the project each person is responsible for, as well as what steps each part includes and when it is due.
- Share the load. A common complaint about group projects is that one person gets stuck doing most of the work. Review the tasks and the number of group members and divide the work fairly among all the members.
- Set meetings and group goals. Frequent meetings will help keep the group on track, ensure that each part of the project is getting done, and solve small problems before they become big ones. This downloadable “Group Project Organizer” will help keep middle school students on track while working on group projects. You can help your child complete his or her part of a group project by providing the following support.
- Go over the assignment with your child: when the project is due, what it comprises, and how it will be evaluated. The assignment sheet should clearly explain expectations and evaluation criteria, so be sure to read it carefully. Have your child clarify any unclear instructions with the teacher.
- Ask what your child already knows about the subject. Calling on prior knowledge primes the brain for deeper thinking and boosts confidence as the child realizes how much he or she already knows.
- Ask how your child will find information about the topic. Have him or her make a list. When every resource has been exhausted, be a resource for your child.
- If your child’s part of the project requires library research, let him or her lead the way. Help write down questions for the librarian about where to find information on the topic. Observe as your child searches the Internet. Explain why some sites provide more reliable information than others.
- Help your child make a schedule for completing the project. Put the schedule in a prominent place—on the family calendar, the bulletin board, or the fridge so that forgetting the deadlines will be impossible.