Collaboration is what students do. Grouping is how we, as teachers, organize students to make that collaboration possible. It's a distinction that matters because while we spend a lot of time discussing collaborative learning, we spend surprisingly little time asking whether different grouping structures produce different outcomes.

“Students don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” This quote, often attributed to John C. Maxwell, resonates deeply with educators for good reason. It reinforces the belief that strong teacher-student relationships are the foundation of successful teaching. It brings to mind inspiring figures like Miss Honey from Matilda or Mr. Keating from Dead Poets Society— the “favorite” teacher, the one who makes a lasting impact, the one we aspire to be. While focus