Show and Tell: Defeat Distraction in the Classroom

2 Comments: Show and Tell: Defeat Distraction in the Classroom

1. When I was teaching my students their multiplication facts, I realized that although most of my students understood the concepts and the instructions in the book, some of them did not. They needed something more.

   A number of the students had ADHD and other learning struggles. So we had to try something different. They all liked to draw. So I had them give each number ,from 1 to 10, it’s own picture that rhymed with the number. For example 3 = tree. And then I had them multiply their numbers and come up with a picture for that answer. For example 3×3 = 9 or 3 (tree)x 3 (tree) = 9 (vine). They all seemed to enjoy this approach!

2. I agree with your ideas.
   For me, school was often boring, especially when the teacher repeated stuff to make sure that we remembered it … hahaha

   “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember; involve me and I will understand.”

   Over explaining something can often have too many levels of abstraction. It becomes just too complex and a big mess.

   These days, I give occasional classes at a high school.
   What works for me, and seems to work for the kids as they ask me to come back, is to :
   – give a quick description
   – give an example – take questions at any point
   – discuss the example and work through the first exercise
   – get them to do some exercises
   – have a set of exercises that start from easy, and gradually get harder and more complex. The set of exercises is so the experienced and clever students can maintain their interest with a few difficult tasks. I started that when I ran courses in a work place for people with a wide variety of experiences and skills.

   For my own children, I had to give a quick description, then WALK OUT and leave them to do the task. Of course, I was available to answer questions.