Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Know it all Every class has one: a "know it all." Well, in class I had a student who thought she was the gift to the classroom and knew absolutely everything about everything. We were doing a pair share activity and she was completely insulting one of the students in her group who didn't really feel like participating. On one hand, the girl was being overly mean, but on the other hand the student wasn't doing what he was supposed to do. I was wondering if I should tell the student to calm down and not worry about the other student, or should I tell the unmotivated student to buck up and do the work? Either choice seems to have its draw backs and I can't really tell both of them to leave each other alone and do the work because then they will both be upset with me and not do the work. Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Teamwork building seems to be the solution for this problem. During morning or community sharing time, review the rules and procedures that students must follow when in participating in cooperative learning groupings. Explain that we all have great ideas that we would like to share, but we must be respectful and allow everyone in the group to have the opportunity to join in on the discussions. If the problem persists, talk to the student privately. As for the student who is uncooperative; why? Were they being overshadowed by the student with the more dominant personality, is the student ESOL, etc? Both situations need to be addressed, but respectfully and privately.