Research shows that by supplying a more authentic context for learning, you will increase the chance that a lesson will be remembered and can be used in other similar situations. Last week, Grade 2 classes did a fun exercise to learn more about counting and doing a tally of multiple objects. The students were told that all the doorknobs in the school needed to be changed. Their job was to figure out how to help the locksmith count and record the total number of doorknobs in the entire school. After participating in the exercise, Logan, a student from this grade, went home and used the skills that he learned in order to count or visually represent how many Chanukah candles he had. What a great example of motivating students to learn and apply their knowledge by using real life examples. Way to go Logan! And kudos to the teachers of the Grade 2 classes!
