The Importance of Team Work

The lockdown has forced school children across the country to do their best to learn at home with the support of their families. Recent government guidance says that when schools in Wales reopen only around a third of pupils will be in school at any one time. Councils across Wales are responding to the crisis in a variety of different ways but it looks like most pupils will go to school on a part-time timetable and work at home for the rest of the time.

To make the home learning effective and fun it can help to consider these strategies which will encourage team work and collaboration.

1. The pupil becomes the teacher

To teach a subject you have to really understand the topic. This strategy flips a normal lesson on its head and the pupil becomes the teacher.

Once the young person has completed all of their work, they create a short presentation about what they have been studying which can then be performed for other family members or siblings. The audience benefit because they will learn the basics of the topic and the students benefit by practicing their presentation skills and making sure that they really understand what they have been learning about.

2. Online intensive group tuition

This program of online group tuition from Cardiff & Vale Tutors is perfect for young people as they can share their ideas, ask questions about things they are struggling with and benefit from the expertise of a professional tutor.  Some students prefer working in a group over one-to-one tuition as they might feel more relaxed and able to learn; being part of a group can also make the tuition sessions more fun.

The 5 week course is just £40 for A-level students and £30 for GCSE. This makes it a very cost-efficient way to help pupils continue to learn between now and September.

3. Group rewards

Many parents have said that the hardest thing about homeschooling through the lockdown has been keeping children motivated to complete their work. This strategy relies on the students’ team work skills to motivate them to do their best.

At the start of each week every member of the household sets themselves one target. The students will set themselves the target of completing their schoolwork while adults might set themselves targets to complete DIY projects, exercise more frequently or tidy the house. If at the end of the week everyone has completed their challenge then the whole family will get to enjoy a reward such as a takeaway or a family movie night.However, if just one person hasn’t completed their challenge then the whole family are prevented from getting the reward. This will really motivate the students as they know that if they don’t try their best then they will be letting down their siblings or carers.

4. Planned group activities

Many children will be really missing their friends and classmates from school. Break time and lunchtime are important for young people to learn how to socialise and give them an opportunity to relax. If pupils don’t get this opportunity they might struggle to concentrate on their work.

A useful strategy is to organise a weekly online quiz that the young people can enjoy together. Having a social event to look forward to, even an online one, can help pupils stay motivated and prevent procrastination.

This blog was written by Sam, our Cardiff & Vale English Tutor. Sam tutors our GCSE and A level English students. Sam is a graduate of Durham University and is a qualified teacher with a P.G.C.E in English from the University of Manchester.

TAGS: Lockdown, Strategies, Team Work, Rewards, collaboration

Categories: Family Support, COVID-19