It’s Monday morning, and your teacher assigns a new project. Then she breaks the class into small groups. Some students get excited to work with their classmates. But others dread it.
Many educators say group projects teach kids valuable life skills. They can learn to consider different opinions, make compromises, and divide work to get the job done. That can help prepare kids for their future careers.
But some teachers avoid assigning group work. They say it can be stressful for students who are more comfortable working alone. They also point out that group projects don’t always involve true teamwork. Some students wind up doing most of the work. In those cases, it wouldn’t be fair for everyone in the group to get the same grade.