ABSTRACT
This chapter speaks about the first day of school, which is filled with anticipation and excitement for every passionate teacher. With own experience as reference, the author describes the concepts of cooperative learning and how the students are engaged in it. Furniture arrangement is a key factor in establishing effective cooperation. Hanging from the ceiling above the center of each group is a piece of colorful yarn with a laminated number attached, marking the location of each group. Most of the students choose to sit near students with whom they are familiar, often with good friends. Nonverbal cues are powerful tools and used every day in every class during the year. Students are encouraged to think about a cool activity they had enjoyed that summer. Creating a collaborative classroom can be started at most any time during the school year. The teacher, who is the expert in the classroom, should make these decisions and will eventually become proficient.
