Cooperative Learning is a great strategy to use in every classroom. It doesn’t matter the age or ability of the students, cooperative learning can be used. Cooperative learning gives students a way to learn and use communication skills. It allows more students to talk and engage in the subject at once, rather than the traditional one student answers the teacher’s question.

Cooperative Learning structures are content free strategies for students to engage and discuss in the classroom. These structures can be used in any subject matter and any lesson you are doing.

Here are the top 10 structures that I love to use in my classroom. I explicitly teach these to my students. We will practice these structures until they master it. Then, I will add in another structure. 

At first, you may need to plan to do these in your lessons. Eventually, you will use these all the time without even thinking about it. It will enhance your teaching and enhance the engagement of your students. If you want some tips on how to implement Cooperative Learning in your classroom, click here.

This is a list of 10 Cooperative Learning Structures that I use in my classroom daily. If you want to learn more about Cooperative Learning, please read “Kagan Cooperative Learning” by Spencer Kagan. This is a great book that easily explains everything you need to know, and includes step-by-step directions for every Kagan Cooperative Learning Structure!

1. Numbered Heads Together

In the group, a heads together is everyone in the group talking and discussing. I usually use this one to have the students discuss a problem or discuss something we are talking about. I will give the students a set amount of time or just see how much time they need if they are continuing to have good conversation. When time is up, I will use our quiet signal to get their attention back. Next, I will call a number. Each student in the group is numbered from 1 to 4 (sometimes 5). I will use a spinner to pick the number and ask all number 2’s to stand up. I will ask them what they discussed in their group to share with the whole class.

This is a super easy structure to master. This is one of my most go-to structures, since it is simple and the students can discuss for a short amount of time or even a long amount of time. When another teacher enters my room and needs to talk to me, I can easily tell the students to do a heads together and talk about anything we were just learning or even something random! This will give me time to talk to the other teacher.

2. Round Robin

This is a great structure to use if each student has answered a question independently like on a worksheet or paper. This structure has each group member stand and share with the group, when they are done they will sit and the next student will stand up and talk. When everyone has shared, I usually tell them to just have a heads together to discuss until all the groups are done. You will know when all the groups are done because no student will be standing. 

Another way to do this is to time each rotation. So I will put 1 minute on the timer for number 1, when it is over, I will reset the timer and number 2 will stand and share.

3. Think Pair Share (Partners)

This is a great structure if you want students to share or discuss with one other student. For this structure, I ask a question and tell each student to think about it. Next, I will tell them to turn to their partner and share what they are thinking. It is important to give think time so students are prepared to share.

Also, you can have shoulder partners and face partners. Shoulder partners are who the students are sitting beside. Face partners are who the students are sitting in front of. It is good to switch up who the students share to every so often. 

4. Timed Pair Share

This is very similar to Think Pair Share, but set a timer for how long the students have to discuss. So, give students a chance to think. Then, tell them they will need to share with a partner for a set amount of time, like 2 minutes. Also, you can tell the first partner they have a minute to discuss. After the minute timer goes off, the next partner will get a minute to share.

5. Corners 

This is a great structure to use for review or opinion type questions. You can use the four corners of your classroom or even 2 or 3. You will give an option for each corner of your room. Then you will have students move to that corner for their answer. For example, you could do an A, B, C, D type question and each corner is one of the answers.

I also really like to do this structure for opinion type questions. Sometimes, we will discuss characters in a book we are reading. I will assign each corner a character in a book. I will ask students to go to the corner of their favorite character. When students do this, I might have them discuss what they like about the character in the corner and later share with the class.

6. Jigsaw

This is a great structure to use for a group project or class research. Sometimes I will use this to read sections of a text. Each student in a group will be assigned a different topic. All numbers 1’s in the class will have the same topic. They will meet together to discuss their topic. Then return to their original group to discuss what they learned.

For example, while learning about plant structures in science, I will have all number 1’s meet to discuss roots, all number 2’s meet to discuss leaves, all number 3’s meet to discuss stems, and all number 4’s meet to discuss petals. In these groups, students will read the text and discuss why their structure is so important to the plant. When they are done discussing, I will have all students go back to their original group. I will then do a Timed Round Robin to have the students share what they learned to the group. I may even have a couple students share to the class.

7. Rally Coach

This is a great structure to use in math. Students will work in partners and one student will be the “coach” while the other student does the math problem and then they will switch. Basically, one student will do a problem and the other student will tell them what to do or evaluate how they did it. Then, they will switch and the other student will coach while the other student completes the problem.

8. Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up

This is similar to partners, but allows the students to get up and find a partner in the room besides their shoulder or face partner. This structure requires students to stand up out of their seat, walk around the classroom for a specific amount of time with their hand up, then on a signal find the closest student to High 5 and that is their partner to discuss.

9. Round Table 

This structure can be used for group writing or brainstorming. Basically, students pass around a paper and everyone writes on it. I usually time this so each student has the same amount of writing time. So, number 1 will write and pass to number 2, and so on. You could also have each student write on a piece of paper and keep passing the papers around the group until everyone gets every paper.

10. Cooperative Graffiti 

This structure can also be used for brainstorming or review. Basically, you will put a big piece of paper in the middle of the group. You will give a certain amount of time and have every student write on the paper, either what they remember about the skill or even to brainstorm for a new topic. After the writing time, give students time to read what everyone wrote and organize ideas. After organizing ideas, you can call on a number to share to the whole class.

I hope you are able to add these into your everyday teaching. These structures are great and versatile to use in any subject you may be teaching throughout the day. This is a great way to keep students engaged in your lesson.

Thank you for Continually Learning with us!

Kyle and Sarah