Show What You Know
By Jeff Eccleston

Big things come in small packages. This saying came to mind after I created a simple math review activity for my fourth grade students. Though simple, it has proven to be extremely advantageous in reinforcing math concepts. I use this activity, which I call "Show What You Know," often. Here are some of my suggestions for getting started on implementing this technique in your own classroom.

It's a concept. After every math concept I introduce in class, I write the name of the concept on a 5" x 8" card and place it in a large envelope. On the outside of the envelope I have written "Show What Your Know" in large, bold print. I always make a point of showing the concept card to my class before putting it in the envelope. After adding the cards to the envelope for just a couple of weeks, there are enough concepts to begin the activity. More and more cards are added to the envelope as I introduce additional concepts throughout the year.

Volunteers needed. The activity starts when I ask a student volunteer to draw a card from the envelope. The student places the card on the chalk ledge so everyone can see the concept that's written on the card. I explain to the student that it's time to "show what you know" about the math concept. Knowledge of the concept is demonstrated when the student meets three requirements. First, he or she must draw or write an example of the concept on the board. Secondly, the student must explain his or her written work as it relates to the concept. Lastly, the student must defend his or her knowledge of the concept by answering questions about it from their classmates or me.

A classroom-tested example. To illustrate, here's what happened when a young lady drew the concept card, "Prime Number" one day last year.

She began by writing the following numbers on the board: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11. As I often do, I asked a couple of questions to help her clarify this written part of the activity.

"Aren't those just whole numbers? What makes them prime?" I inquired.

She then wrote the following: 3, 1 x 3 and 5, 1 x 5. I then asked her to explain what she wrote.

"A prime number is a number that has just two factors, one and itself," she said proudly.

This student had written and explained the concept satisfactorily. I then asked the other students in class if they had any questions to ask her about the concept. One student asked why nine was not a prime number. She made clear that nine has more than two factors and wrote 1 x 9 and 3 x 3 on the board. With that, this student volunteer had successfully drawn, explained and defended her knowledge of the concept of prime numbers.

Managing mistakes. After a student is finished, another volunteer goes to the "Show What You Know" envelope and draws another concept card and the activity continues in a similar manner. As each new volunteer draws a concept card, that student is always greeted with, in the most serious, profound voice I can muster, "It's time to show what you know."

If a student volunteer makes a mistake, I ask him or her to leave it on the board. This way the other students in class can see the mistake and learn from it. You'll find that students reach for the eraser and want to remove the written mistake as soon as possible. I then ask another volunteer to help the student at the board either write, explain or defend the concept that he or she started. I give a math extra credit point to any student who completes the activity without assistance.

A round of applause. Going in front of the entire class and taking part in this activity can sometimes be intimidating for a fourth grader, and mistakes will be made. With this in mind, I always create a comfortable atmosphere during "Show What You Know." I remind students before we begin that there's nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as we learn from them. Less confident students are reassured when the class offers to help them if they volunteer to draw a card. The class gives a round of applause to all students when they volunteer and after they complete their work, whether completed successfully or not.

This activity has really helped my students to retain math concepts. Try "Show What You Know" in your classroom – you won't be disappointed when this small activity delivers some big results in your math instruction!

Jeff Eccleston teaches fourth grade at Riverside School in Toledo, OH.

January, 2007, Vol.37, No.4