Week 32 - The Ah-Ha Effect

"My heart is singing for joy this morning. A miracle has happened. The light of understanding has shone upon my little pupil's mind, and behold, all things are changed" - Anne Sullivan

Not covered in any college textbook is the sensation of "Ah-ha!" when a student finally understand what was once an incomprehensible concept to him. Judy learned that firsthand when she tutored a boy diagnosed with a math disability. It wasn't her student's discovery that changed her, however, it was her own.

She had learned how to break the learning of a new concept back down to the concrete level if a student was having trouble. So when it came to fractions, a trip to the pizza parlor seemed in order. Not just because it would be fun, but because Judy herself had always struggled with fractions. Teaching the lesson step-by-step (including consuming the prop) led Judy to an amazing discovery - she finally understood fractions! For the first time in her life, she really understood them! This made teaching them not only easier, but more exciting.

Should it have taken Judy until she was twenty to fully grasp fractions? Unknown. What is known to her now, however, is the power of the Ah-ha effect. She knows that it doesn't really matter how long it takes, as long as it happens. Maybe a student just needs more time. What are you willing to do to ensure your students' success? Your work is not done until you hear, "Oh, I get it!"

Do you know which students 'get it' and which don't? You should. Take the time and give more when needed.

Prompt: Reflect on a time when you clearly saw a student grasp a difficult concept. . .