Shoe Schema?
"Why did you bring in two different shoes Miss Pratt?" A student asked as the 3rd Grade teacher held up a running shoe and a high-heeled shoe at the beginning of readers' workshop. She brought in two different shoes to help the students understand schema. They began their discussion by talking about what kinds of experiences her running shoe has been through and then comparing them to the experiences of her high-heeled shoe. The students were then able to make the connection that just like shoes have different experiences, people do too. By the end of their discussion, students knew that schema meant prior knowledge and because they all have different experiences, they all have different schema.
Located in Los Angeles, CA, Berkeley Hall School is a private, coeducational school for students in preschool through grade 8. Rigorous academics in a supportive atmosphere and grounded character development allow students to become fearless scholars and conscientious citizens - gain a love of learning, leadership with social responsibility, creativity with moral integrity, and self-esteem with compassion for others and the environment.