Little Red School House
and Elisabeth Irwin High School

A Pre-K-12 Progressive Education

Our Program

High School

Collaboration

Allison Isbell & Margaret Paul

Have you tried to explain a complicated concept to a friend only to discover, while talking, that it was clearer in your head? Or, have you ever thought you understood a concept, but discovered that you were missing important pieces when you tried to explain it to someone else?

Have you ever shared a new idea with a group, only to discover than your idea grows stronger--gains strength--through the discussion itself?

We ask our students to do lots of work together. They solve math problems together, conduct experiments together, analyze texts together, and construct their understandings, together.

The work of collaboration orients students toward creating something that is greater than what they might produce on their own. And in this process, some truly transformative learning happens.

Here are just a few abilities students cultivate by working collaboratively:

Establishing trust and taking intellectual risks

Listening to and building on the ideas of others

Critiquing ideas, not people

Challenging existing narratives

Changing minds through evidence and persuasion

Navigating and managing conflict

We live in a complex, complicated world. Our work as teachers is to help students develop the ability to not only navigate this world, but to be positioned as citizens capable of solving problems together, and ultimately bringing about meaningful change in the communites where they will work and live.