Tips and Tricks #4

The Sky’s the Limit

Did I mention that the judges in my hypothetical literacy competition (see Tips and Tricks #1) would be teachers?  That’s right, teachers would conduct an evaluative peer review of the best entries based on what they know about teaching literacy.  As a contestant, I would need to impress them by showing something that they may never have seen before.  At the same time, I know that teachers can be a hard sell.  What would it take to knock their socks off and win the competition?

Here are some of my ideas for securing the winning ticket.  First of all, what if I were to raise the bar higher than anyone might expect. For example, how about inserting some words that might even be unfamiliar to the judges!  These would include high-school-level vocabulary that many adults often mispronounce.  Secondly, I would demonstrate gains in proficiency by special-needs students who are challenged by learning disabilities and speech impediments, the latter of which would be especially noticeable in video clips that showcase the accomplishments of such kids when the sky’s the limit.