Fourth and Fifth Grade Teachers’ Perspectives of the Benefits of Incorporating Cooperative Learning Activities

Abstract

I interviewed twenty-nine fourth and fifth grade teachers in a western New York school district to get their perspectives on cooperative learning activities and how they incorporate these activities into their classrooms. The teachers were provided a nine question survey where they were asked to answer questions about how they perceive cooperative learning and how they incorporate different activities into their instruction that promote social learning. I reviewed the surveys to see what the benefits of cooperative learning are in the classroom and if teachers feel those activities help their students. I found that all twenty-nine teachers surveyed believe that cooperative learning activities are beneficial for their students and they incorporate them into their classroom every day.