Objective: Students will work together to solve complex problems, leading to stronger mathematical reasoning and mathematical communication skills.

Teacher Takeaways: a) Small groups of 3-6 students work better than larger groups, providing opportunity for active participation, yet large enough for a variety of ideas. b) Create groups with a variety of academic mastery level, as well as varied interests and motivation. c) While you might be reluctant to "slow down" stronger students, diverse groupings help stronger students develop mathematical communication skills and question their own knowledge and depth of understanding through peer teaching. d) Mixing up student levels also helps students appreciate alternate perspectives, become more aware of their own strengths and needs, and develop empathy for others. e) Diverse ability groupings are most fruitful when students are given a rich and multi-layered task, rather than a problem with a single, straight-forward correct answer.

OER Resource: Collaborative Problem Solving (Digital Promise Learner Variability Project)