SHOW AND TELL
“Mom, I want to bring my new book, may I?” prodded my 3-year old son. He would always do this on Thursday evenings. He would prepare a book, a toy or a photo…once he even asked if he could bring his sister. No, this was not for a walk to the park or a trip to the beach. It was something my son prepared for all the time. It was something he and his friends looked forward to. This was 17 years ago when my son was in kindergarten. This was Show and Tell.My daughter, nieces and nephew did the same thing. Show and Tell was something they prepared for and looked forward to.
As a kindergarten teacher, I introduced Show and Tell to my students. Show and Tell is the time when the children talk about something they have brought from home; it could be a toy, a book, a photo or even a pet. Show and Tell isn’t bragging what the child has, it is developing child’s speaking skills and building the child’s confidence to speak before an audience.
When Show and Tell started four months ago, some children were shy to stand before the class. Some would just whisper in my ear. Some would wait after class and talk to me in private. After a few weeks though, the children warmed up and like my own children, most of them would come to class prepared to Show and Tell.
The children have not only learned speaking skills, they have also learned the days of the week by
heard because they know that Thursday is Show and Tell for boys and Friday is Show and Tell for girls. They have also mastered the use of “this is” and can use the past tense “I brought”. They also pick up the language used like HOT WHEELS is a brand but is actually a car and that there are other types of vehicles like truck and van. Or that BARBIE is a type of doll and there are many types of dolls.
For most of my students, Show and Tell is the highlight of the week, telling me on Monday “Miss, on Friday I will bring a turtle”. Or after speaking in Show and Tell, the child already has a plan for the next Show and Tell. Or creating something to bring for Show and Tell, like a picture or a pet or making an origami. Show and Tell brings out the creative side of the child.
Show and Tell does not only enhance a child’s speaking skills or build a child’s confidence, it also teaches the child to listen, to become more organized and most of all it widens the child’s vocabulary.
So if one of my students should ask to bring a sibling for Show and Tell, I will only smile and say YES, you can Show and Tell! (Ms. Stella Arungayan)