More than 90%- this is the amount of information retained in the brain when students are asked to actually do or perform a given task according to Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience. So instead of the usual lecture type-discussion method, T. Clarice made her students perform with their lesson in Comparing Numbers in Grade 1.
What? Comparing Numbers? You might ask yourself these questions. Is it really possible to learn Math without the use of rote memorization? Our answer is YES! Here in Montessori De Sagrada Familia, students are engaged in their work so they learn to make an understanding of their own and discern knowledge which could be helpful to them.
Fewer than 4 pupils got the incorrect answer in the activity. Way much better than the results gained in the traditional way of teaching. In this activity, students will, individually, pick a word (which are things inside the school) from the fishbowl in which they will observe, count and make judgments whether it is more than, fewer than or as many as.
The said activity makes use of tangible objects and presents real-life scenarios which will also help them in dealing with the real world.
Students enjoyed going out of their usual space and because they were asked to observe, they learned to focus on one thing. They learned to concentrate, define relationships (e.g boys and girls, lights and aircon), and to differentiate. The fun that they had in doing this activity is as many as the lessons they learn in Comparing Numbers.
Teacher Clarice is an adviser of Grade 1-Coral. She teaches Math in grade 1 and is a firm believer in learning by doing.
