Challenge: A high-status, dominant student wants to do everything themselves. Tip: Enforce the roles! Ask the Little Teacher why they allow one person to work or introduce the rule that only the Materials Manager can touch the tools until there is a joint decision.
Challenge: A low-status student is passive, or the others ignore them. Tip: Notice a good thought from the passive student and praise it loudly: “Look how uniquely Peter arranged the shapes. This is exactly the visual logic the group needs right now!”
Challenge: Students finish too quickly, then get bored. Tip: The task was probably not open-ended enough or requiring multiple abilities. Prepare deepening “challenge questions” for early finishers.
Challenge: Students argue loudly and cannot agree. Tip: The teacher should not solve the conflict! Support the “Harmonizer” with sentence: “How could we merge the two ideas?” or “Do you think it’s time to vote?” Expect them to do their job.
Challenge: Younger (6-7 years old) children forget their roles. Tip: Use large, clear pictures on the role cards. Before starting work, stand up all the Little Teachers, then the Materials Managers, and have them state loudly what their job is that day.
Challenge: The group gets lost in the details and runs out of time. Tip: Use a large visual timer and make it the Little Teacher’s (or Timekeeper’s) job to track it. The teacher should not rush them, but ask a question forcing prioritization (e.g., “What is the single most important step right now so the Spokesperson can stand up?”).
