Student accountability
Do you anticipate that some of your students will struggle with these collaborative challenges, get distracted, frustrated working with others and require a lot of your attention?
Explicitly teaching self-regulation and executive function skills in the classroom will allow students to develop greater independence, be more accountable to themselves and the group, and make your job more enjoyable!
These skills allow students to set goals, get started in their learning, filter distractions, prioritize tasks, and control impulses.
The self regulation checklist can be used to encourage students to self-reflect during challenges and provide them with strategies to achieve goals. It’s a good idea to display it, discuss it and model it with the class before sending them off to work independently.
For students who might need extra support, it’s a good idea to give them access to a hard copy and encourage them to refer to it when they are stuck. If students understand the areas where they need to improve before starting the task, have them set self-regulation goals by highlighting in the grid. Allow them to reflect by themselves or with others to assess and celebrate their success.
Good resources
Harvard University - Guide to Executive Function:
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/executive-function/
University of Connecticut - Using Self-Regulated Learning to Reverse Underachievement in Talented Students:
Nina Parish - How to Teach Self-Regulation