Solve It Together: Group Project Problems
Six problems that come up in group work. The student chooses a solution that keeps the group working together.
One group member is doing all the talking and others cannot share ideas. What could the group do?
Session summary (SOAP)
Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.
Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.
How to run it
Read each problem aloud and ask the student to brainstorm solutions before showing the choices. Then compare: what would happen next with each one? Role-play the harder conversations, such as asking a teammate privately about their part, or disagreeing kindly. The last item is about the student's own needs, which is a valid problem to solve too.
Cueing ladder
Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.
- IndependentSet up the situation and wait for the student to respond on their own.Log as correct
- Nonverbal cueUse a look, a gesture or a point to the visual cue card.Log as cued
- Indirect promptAsk 'What could you say now?' or 'What might they be thinking?'Log as cued
- ModelShow what to say or do, then run the moment again so the student can try it.Log as cued
Adjust it
Talk through one problem at a time and offer two solutions to compare side by side.
Ask for two solutions of the student's own before showing the choices, and what might happen next.
Matching IEP goal
Given social problem scenarios, with the clinician asking for two solutions of the student's own before showing the choices, Student will name the problem and choose a solution that could work for the people involved, giving a reason, in 4 of 5 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions.
Send it home through the parent portal →About this activity
Six problems that come up in group projects: one person doing all the talking, two members wanting different topics, someone not doing their part, a deadline tomorrow, a teammate's idea that will not work, and a noisy room that makes group work hard. The student chooses a solution that keeps the group working together. Each one is a problem students meet every year, and planning a response ahead makes it easier.
What to listen for
Notice whether the student jumps to blame or to giving up. Listen for solutions that protect everyone's dignity, such as asking privately rather than telling the class. Notice whether the student can disagree kindly; the I like that you thought of that item is a model worth practising out loud. Notice whether the student sees their own needs as worth raising.
Carrying it home
At home, ask about group work at school: what is working and what is hard? Talk through one problem using what could you do and what might happen next. Share a time you solved a problem with coworkers or family. Praising the thinking, even when the solution is imperfect, builds confidence to try.
What's in this activity
- One group member is doing all the talking and others cannot share ideas. What could the group do?
- Go around the circle so everyone shares one idea
- Let that person do the whole project
- Stop working together
- Two members want different topics for the poster. What could they do?
- Argue until the bell
- List what is good about each and vote or combine them
- Ask the teacher to pick a new group
- Someone in the group has not done their part. What could you do first?
- Ask them privately if something is getting in the way
- Tell the whole class
- Do their part and say nothing
- The group is behind and the project is due tomorrow. What could you do?
- Panic and give up
- Split the remaining tasks and check in at the end
- Blame each other
- A teammate's idea will not work but they really like it. What could you say?
- That idea is terrible
- I like that you thought of that. I am not sure it fits because...
- Say nothing and ignore it
- You find group work hard because the room is noisy. What could you do?
- Ask if the group can move somewhere quieter or use a written plan
- Leave without telling anyone
- Pretend everything is fine
Questions
- Who is this for?
- Students in grades 4 through 8 working on social problem solving and collaboration, including students who find group work stressful.
- Can I change the items?
- Yes. Open it in the Activity Studio, edit or add items and keep the same board, or switch it to another template that fits the content.
- Is it free?
- Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.
Use this board with your caseload
With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.
Track progress freeFree for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.