Michele Borba (2002) Suggestions for Roles in Group Work, from her presentation at the Hearts and Minds Conference, Orlando, FL.

The following are possible jobs that can be rotated among group members to ensure that everyone gets to play an equal role:

• Task Direction--keeps the team on task, makes sure the team understands and agrees on the answers, uses phrases like:

• Let's review the rules, assignment, steps in the activity

• Remember what the task is

• Let's stay focused

• Let's read the directions again

• We have one more part to do

• Do we all understand

• Let's get back on task

• Recorder--writes down what the team says, repeats what others say, uses phrases like:

• Is this what I should write?

• Please slow down

• Say that again

• Here's what we have so far

• What should I write next

• Praiser--keeps up the enthusiasm of the group, praises group member's efforts, helps group stay positive, uses phrases like:

• Keep up the good work!

• We're doing great

• Awesome

• That's a great idea

• Keep going--we're almost done

• Encourager--encourages everyone to participate in the task, helps to make sure person contributes ideas, uses phrases like:

• What do you think

• We haven't heard your idea

• It's your turn

• What do you think the answer is

• (This one I've added from my own experience) Clarifier--asks for clarification when things are not clear, asks for examples or expansion of the ideas, uses phrases like:

• What do you mean by that

• Can you give an example of that

• Tell us more about that idea

• What's another way you could say that