The way I teach Theatre History is based on a LOT of group work. One of the challenges with each project is how to divid the 50+ kids into groups of 5-7. I always began by asking them to form their own groups. This worked well – – although there were always a group of students that didn’t do their fair share of work on their last assignment that are now finding it more difficult to find a group to take them in. Work history does play a part of things both in and out of school! My other strategy was to do a random placing of everyone in groups – just draw names out of a hat and form the groups. This always got every rattled. Top students were unhappy to have those who are not doing their work – and social groups are all unbalanced that they are not going to be working with their friends. It seems like I can’t win! If I let them make the choices, some get upset, and if I set them up in groups then others get upset.
Perhaps I should solve this as it was solved for me in junior high when we chose sides for basketball teams. The two captains would begin calling names in front of everyone and your value as a player (and as a human being) sank with each name that called before you. I remember those names and that long wait for my name to be called. Shame and cruelty are perhaps best kept out of the classroom. Funny how those memories still sting.