TeacherServer.com
Home | How It Works | Stats
Login | Register
     
  Case: Cannot Cooperate
Aisha is known as a responsible and smart student. I have known her for the last two years, but this year is the first time she is taking one of my classes. She is in my 10th grade US History class. Recently, I started using small group projects in my class. I simply want my students to learn to cooperate, exchange ideas, and produce the project together. Although Aisha is willing to take part in these small group projects, she does not want to be in groups with male students because of her religious beliefs. When she told me about this, I told her that she was in the United States and that she had to work with whoever she is in a group with. In the first group project, Aisha was in a group with three males and one female students. She simply did not participate in any of the group activities. I wonder if should reconsider my original position on this issue and accommodate Aisha by having her work only with girls. Would I be doing her a disservice? What should I do?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
After seeing how Aisha worked in the first group project, I would definitely reconsider the original position. I might take Aisha aside and explain to her that all students are considered equals and that in school she would be considered to work productively with all of them. In the next group project however, I might place her in a group with all girls or maybe a group with a larger number of girls than boys. I might also ease her into groups with more males as the year progresses. The hope of this would be that eventually, Aisha would not be so uncomfortable working with males and would eventually see all of her students as equals.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments: Good solution to the case.
Rated On: June 1, 2015 4:48 pm
Rated By: Yasar Bodur