#044 - The cliffhanger technique for read-alouds

Two kinds of memory, an update on standardized testing, and a read-aloud method to keep your kids on the edge of their seat

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OpenEd Daily
October 02, 2024

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đź’ˇ THOUGHT

Memory: Storeroom or Showroom?

Memory for “Memory Work”

Memory for Assimilation

Short-term recall

Long-term understanding

Isolated facts

Connected knowledge

For passing tests

For gaining wisdom

Real learning isn't about filling a bucket with facts, but lighting a fire of understanding. When we ask students to "retell the history of the Vietnam War" instead of just listing outcomes, we train them to assimilate and connect dots, not just collect them.

đź“Š TREND

The Great Testing Shell Game Continues

Remember when "No Child Left Behind" promised 100% proficiency by 2014? Well, it's 2024, and states are still playing musical chairs with testing standards. Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Alaska, and New York are lowering their proficiency benchmarks. Translation? More kids magically become "proficient" overnight!

It's like watching a high-stakes game of limbo - how low can you go?

Some officials claim these changes provide a "more accurate reflection" of student knowledge. But if we have to keep changing the ruler, maybe we're measuring the wrong thing. In the real world, no one will ask your kid what their standardized test score was. They'll want to know what they can do. Let’s stop lowering the bar and change the measuring stick.

🛠️ TOOL

The Cliffhanger Technique: A Secret Weapon for Read-Alouds

Want to supercharge your family read-aloud sessions? Try this counterintuitive tip: Stop at the good parts.

Here's why it works:

  1. Enhances engagement: Builds anticipation and encourages critical thinking as kids ponder, "What happens next?"

  2. Boosts creativity and retention: Imaginations run wild in the interim, helping the story stick

  3. Teaches patience: A valuable life skill in our instant-gratification world

How to do it:

  • Identify climactic moments or unresolved situations

  • Stop reading, even mid-chapter

  • Resist the "one more page" pleas (stay strong, parents!)

  • Encourage discussion, but don't assign it

Remember: This isn't about torturing your kids. It's about giving space for the story to marinate in their minds.

For nine more pro tips on reading aloud, check out the full article over at Simply Charlotte Mason:

That’s all for today!

– Charlie (the OpenEd newsletter guy)

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