1) Brain Storm Ideas – each take a sheet of paper and come up with five ideas for your project – that way you are both contributing to the idea and you will have a number of ideas to choose from!

2) Listen to all your partners' ideas, even if you don't like them. Your partner might not like all the ideas that you have to share either – so listen and don't be so quick to turn down ideas – they just might end up working out for you.

3) Think of the pros and cons for each of your ideas. This can be based on how difficult the ideas would actually be, and how realistic it will be to get a good grade on your project. During this step you should go to the library and do research on your topics – then you will be able to get a feel of the kind of information out there, and how the two of you will be able to use it.

4) Once you come up with your idea, split the work evenly – You are SHARING a project, and neither partner should be taken advantage of. If each of you put your all into the work you have, you will turn in the best possible project you could every possibly do – but it should be an equal effort.

5) If problems arise, be honest and open with your partner, that way your project can be saved (look how understanding Casey was when I lost our rocks – but we managed to think of a new idea, and still get an A and extra credit!)

6) If you have followed all of these steps and tried to work well with your partner, and they still won't cooperate – then you should talk to your teacher, and try to work something out. This should only be done if your partner isn't doing their share of the project.

Finally, I asked my class what they think about having partners – here's what some of them said:

Brianna: "Like, Victoria is really cool and really fun to shop with. Our project was like the best one out of the whole class. But she is in NO way like more popular then me!"

Victoria: "Like, I am the most popular girl in the fifth grade!"

Casey: "Hayes was cool, she lost our rocks, but everything turned out ok. We even got some extra credit – I knew me and Hayes could do it!"

Mason: "Me and Kyle definitely had some gross and disgusting fun!"

Bethany: "Crystal and I did a project on hamsters – if I couldn't have Brianna as my partner at least I got to work and learn more about my hamsters."

Abby (yes me again): "I made a good friend – even if he is a boy!!"