Why Collaboration in the Classroom?

Collaboration is so important in the classroom. It is a fancy word for working together, but for me in my classroom, it is a way for me to set the tone of my classroom. It's how I share what I think is important.

When students are working together, they build skills that they may not get by just working on their own. They are listening to understand. They are clarifying their words so that others can comprehend what they are saying. They are using each other's thinking to push their own thinking. They are filtering what other people are saying and using that to answer their questions, solidify their own stance, or change their minds.

But that is just on the academic level.

On the social emotional level, good collaboration can mean so much more. Good collaboration is leveling the playing field for all the students in the group. It means that everyone's ideas matter and everyone can contribute to the classroom. It means that one student's learning is not more important than another student's learning. It means helping each other and supporting each other. It means that there is no status in the classroom based on how much we understand. It means that the success of the group, matters more than the success of the individual. It means that a student can share their ideas without fear.