Brain children

23rd March 2001, 12:00am
Dear Editor

I’d like to share this teaching idea with your readers. I have cut the Brainteasers out of the magazines and appointed two “designers” in my class to mount them individually on coloured cards. They designed a corner of the classroom wall for displaying the problems, which were assigned to Level A and Level B pockets. The children then attempted to solve the problems in their own time.

Two “masterminds” were responsible for marking,recording and rewarding correct answers.

The idea made many children feel important as everyone thought of themselves as being clever. Perhaps best of all, however, was the fact that snack-times were so much more peaceful - there’s less time for arguing if you’re busy using your brain.

For extra credit, the children were able to make up or adapt problems to add to the collection.

Thanks for a fabulous magazine!

Ruth Gross