Sytretch2Smart has 3 levels of difficulty. Each expands the reader’s higher level thinking skills. As is so often in life, there are no wrong answers. Instead, it is the argument or case that we build for an answer, and how sincerely we believe in it that makes it right for each of us. The real question is: can you defend your answer with a convincing, true, and intelligent argument?
Parents, grandparents, teachers and the like who are reading to, or having material read to them will, at first when using Stretch2Smart, have to work at getting the reader to reason why his/her answer was chosen. The purpose is not to change the answer, but to get the reader to use his/her reasoning processes to build a case for that answer.
This reasoning process requires the reader to pull data from his/her knowledge base, analyze it, weigh its value for their selected answer, and then have the communication skills to present it as their supporting argument.
It is never too early to begin building thinking skills.
The need for them does not max out. There will always be new data, new circumstances, and new questions to deal with.
I thought I’d use an example to explain a little more about how you can work with interactive learning in the appendix of Interesting Facts at the back of each of my books.
If you are reading. Three in a Tub, to a child under 6 years old, allow plenty of time to look at the pictures. They add even more insight to the story.
Now comes the interactive learning:
You might want to float an apple in a bowl and explain that it floats because it is about 1/4th air. Then you could cut it into fourths to show about how much air is hiding in it. You could then examine the 5 seed pockets and count the seeds to see if it had the average number of 10. Finally, you could peel off some of the skin to taste . . . explaining that it holds most of the healthful benefits. You could share the apple and say that on average people eat about 65 apples in a year, or about an apple a week in some form be it juice, pie etc.
So in three steps you are building a larger base of knowledge: the child started with some knowledge, got some from the story, and got more from the “Interesting Facts” appendix.
Welcome. My name is Mary Jane Zakas, author of To the City and Three in a Tub. I’m so happy to have you as a visitor to my blog about Roberta’s adventures, and the Stretch2Smart philosophy. This project is very special to me, and I hope to share some of that excitement with you here.
I’ll be using this blog to interact with you about my books: To the City, and Three in a Tub, expanding on some of the topics in them and blogging on some ways to help you use Stretch2Smart effectively. This is a great place for you to get to know me, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too. What did you think of To the City and Three in a Tub? Do you have some questions that my answers might clarify for you? What parts of my books did you relate to the most. Do you have a similar experience to share?
I’ll be returning here frequently with new posts and responses to feedback from you. Until next time, let us share the joy of reading in our own time and place.