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!) Aisha's religious and cultural beliefs should be respected by the teacher. In this case the teacher should learn more about Aisha's beliefs and why she can not work with boys. The teacher should then meet with Aisha, her parents and a school counselor to discuss the small group projects. The teacher should explain the assignment, reasoning for groupings and course curriculum objectives. Then the teacher should listen to Aisha and her parents perspective. Aisha's parents should be given the opportunity to enable their daughter to participate or not participate in groups with boys. It is essential that Aisha also be given a voice to help in the decision making process. As an active participant in the decision Aisha will feel more comfortable in completing the assignment and her learning will be better facilitated. If Aisha and her parents still feel that it is against their beliefs for her to participate in a group with boys then the teacher needs to accommodate her. The teacher can ask for assistance from the school counselor to create a grouping in the least restrictive environment. Aisha and her parents need to be made aware of what the accommodations are and why so that Aisha will feel comfortable in participating in group projects. Following the completion of the project with accommodations the teacher, counselor and family should meet again to determine if any additional accommodations are needed or if the procedures put in place met both academic and cultural needs.