Page 149 - Routines-Based Early Intervention Guidebook
P. 149
Routines-Based Early Intervention Guidebook
Teaching Contrasting Skills 11.4
a single teachable field (ac ons, animals, community workers…). The more difficult
decks require greater discerning abili es to be able to pick out really minor
differences. As a parent, you can create matching games using pictures of objects
in your house. As a teacher, you can create a memory deck for each of the
academic theme that you can use each year.
3. Verbal Contras ng Games – Many simple games involve contras ng abili es such
as I Spy or 21 Ques ons. In these games, you or other children ask compara ve
ques ons to get closer to the answer. “I spy, with my li le eye, something that is
pink.” “Is it big or small?...” Verbal games are really underu lized as a way to pass
to the me and turn the truly mundane into learning ac vi es. Car rides, hikes,
cafeteria lines, and even transi ons through the hallways can keep en re groups
engaged and focused.
4. Humor – Children are always on the receiving end of learning and it can be
empowering to let them be the one to lead or correct an adult. Simply mislabel an
object and watch a child burst into laughter and explain why you are wrong.
Adult: “It’s a walrus.”
Child: “No! It’s a bird!”
Adult: “How do you know?”
Child: “Because a bird has feathers and flies, not those big teeth.”
5. Similari es and Differences ‐ Asking students to iden fy similari es and differences
while they are learning increases their understanding of that content. It enables
them to experience fresh insights, correct mistakes, and make new connec ons.
6. Be a role model – While talking about a subject, show your children that you are
deeply analyzing the subject by comparing it to everything you know. You are ex‐
plaining how one object or event fits in to the greater knowledge of the world.
7. Extra credit extension projects – allow students to complete “extension projects”
with the topics that really excite them. Have them go home and further research
other aspects of your discussion and report back to class. For example: What did
other scien sts get famous for? What are some other countries in Africa? What
Copyright © 2014 Bilinguis cs, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
141
