When I first started attending college as an education major, the buzzword of the time was “cooperative learning.” I embraced it and have never stopped using it. It is my conviction that no one needs to be forced to work in teams more than gifted and talented kids. Gifted people prefer to work alone. This is not some grand sacrifice. Rather, it is typically because many gifted feel that no one can do “the job” as well as they can. To accept “sub-standard” help is not an option, so gifted often do it all alone. This is not an admirable trait. Cooperative learning in my room involves lots of scored discussions, the ability to disagree, and rewards for working together.
The idea of teamwork as a necessity is no new concept. Getting the team to work together can feel like reinventing the wheel every time, though. There are so many dynamics in any given group. The key to good teamwork is leadership that places value on that teamwork.
At the time of writing this, I have just finished watching the Oklahoma University vs. Texas Christian University football game (2021). The star quarter back, Spencer Rattler, having not discharged his duties effectively, has been replaced with true freshman Caleb Williams. Caleb through passes that were caught and led the team to a great victory. That wasn’t the only thing that changed, though. The OU team its fans were used to was back, united under the leadership of this young quarterback. I don’t know what that unity didn’t occur under Rattler’s leadership, but it didn’t. While it was great to see a quarterback who could complete passes, it was greater yet to see the teamwork he inspired.
There is no doubt that good teamwork is the requirement for success. How do we get our gifted teens to see the value of teamwork? By making them work in teams, of course! Can the family be a team? You bet! The family “team” gets to treat themselves to one extravagant purchase on our trip if we can find 35 of the 50 United States license tags. Or, if we’ll all keep the house clean during the week, we will use Friday night for movie night since we won’t have as much to clean up. The goal is to show that together we can accomplish much. But, it’s also to show that other people have good ideas, too, and we should embrace all input.
Michelle