Blueprints for Thinking in the Cooperative Classroom

BLUEPRINTS FOR THINKING IN A COOPERATIVE CLASSROOM presents practical ideas and model lessons for encouraging cooperative learning in elementary, junior-high and high school classrooms. Tasks are designed with rigor and complexity inherent in the assignments. Higher order thinking strengthens cooperative learning (Joyce 1988) through the cycle of the small-group process. The "Blueprints" approach creates a thinking classroom and a collaborative climate that catches the student cooperating through a sense of need. BLUEPRINTS contains a research-based collection of "best-practice" for the K-12 teacher: *Basics for forming a thinking cooperative classroom; *Easy-to-use lesson models; *High-content, high-support lessons for all teachers; and *High-challenge lessons for all students.