The importance of ‘show and tell’

 //  Jan 6, 2014

The importance of ‘show and tell’

When I think about my early education experience my mind immediately wanders to the days of ‘show and tell.’ Nothing was more exciting than bringing in my favorite book or toy or a photo of my pet bunny and telling my classmates about it. However, what I didn’t realize was that show and tell was more than just having fun; I was gaining useful skills through the activity.

Show and tell sets the stage for children to become comfortable when speaking in public. When presenting during show and tell, students are expected to talk about a variety of topics, organize their thoughts and convey main ideas, all of which are skills that I use as an adult in my job.

The Common Core State Standards place an emphasis on students' speaking and listening skills and effectively communicating what they've learned. So what better way for students to practice those skills than with show and tell? After all, show and tell helps students with planning their presentation, public speaking, using different types of vocabulary and descriptive language, and fielding questions from their classmates.

In addition, show and tell can be a great tool to help English Language Learners, giving them a chance to practice academic vocabulary, pronunciation and other basic skills they need to succeed.

What else do children learn from show and tell?

Comments

I agree with the points made

I agree with the points made here. I also think show and tell is a great way to help kids understand that no one knows everything. But we all know something. By sharing what they know, they can learn to value other opinions for their unique skills and knowledge. I think it’s a form of community building. It can become a comparison game for kids for sure, but if the instructor makes it clear that we are all being something to the table, kids will see it as a positive.