This week in my grade 9 math class I came across an issue for the first time. We are starting to review for our provincial standardized test coming up (we can debate standardized tests another time). Just before the holiday break we did a practice test and this week we were taking up the solutions. As part of this I had the students paired up (our desks are always in pairs). One particular student did quite well on the test and her desk partner and friend did not do as well. The activity was framed around the partners helping each other "so we can all do well on the actual test". A few minutes into them working on comparing their answers this girl was on her phone and disengaged. When I talked to her about it she said "I already did this, why should I have to look at it again" and "she can figure it out" when referring to her friend attempting to solve the problems. I thought this student would want to help their friend do well on the test and then get the added benefit of explaining their thinking to their friend. As the interaction continued I found myself at a loss to convince this student that it was in theirs and their friend's best interests for them to help each other.
Has anyone else seen this issue? I am not sure how to "make" these students want to help each other...
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