I must confess, there were a few unanticipated problems with the Murder in Whitechapel lesson. Mainly, these issues evolved from students who cannot count. In English. For instance, I was not counting on (get it?) students to confuse the numbers twelve and 20.
As I mentioned earlier, cards are labelled with digits, instructions are given in written out form. I knew this would create some discrepant events, but I was unprepared for confusion of twelve and 20, Pat Boone's advice notwithstanding: card 20 directs you to card twelve. If you think 20 and twelve are the same number, you are stuck in a neverending loop! More than one team was flummoxed and frustrated by this.
Numerical challenge #2 involved exactly the same thing, only different. If 12 and 20 can be confused, so can thirteen and thirty-one. The problem being that 13 is about ten steps from the solution, whereas #31 actually identifies the criminal and leaves only three stations to go. So if you leap ahead, you technically solve the mystery, but you don't understand the story.
For you young folks, the title of the post comes from a book by Pat Boone, vanilla rock'n'roller of the 50s and 60s, a mix of autobiography and advice to teenagers.
Friday, June 26, 2009
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2 comments:
ahhh...yes been there. I teach beginners to count to 30 in grade one using manipulatives and reward stamps that they count as they get. Godd habits from day one. Old habits die hard.
Well know you know what to review
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