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The Power of a self-correcting puzzle

1/30/2019

1 Comment

 
I love puzzles!  I do jigsaw puzzles with my family over the holidays.  I always have at least one puzzle center in my center rotations.  I love the logic puzzle app on my phone.

Puzzles are great for developing problem solving skills, fine motor skills including hand eye coordination, and even self-esteem!

While I love all puzzles, I sometimes worry that with some puzzles students may complete them incorrectly when they are working independently.  There is no way for them to check if they matched the correct pieces.  As a result, some students just stick any pieces together and call it a day.
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BUT... a self-correcting puzzle solves this problem!!!

In a self-correcting puzzle only the correct pieces will forget together.  For example, the apple will only fit with the piece that has letter "a" not with any other letter.

I talk to my students about checking their answers.  Do the pieces fit? Great, you made the correct match!  If not, you need to keep working- what went wrong?  Try again to find the correct piece and ask a friend if you need more help.  This encourages further problem solving and meta-cognition.

Self-correcting puzzles can also boost self-esteem!  Make sure to celebrate your students' success with puzzles!  I love to take pictures of them with the final product to post around the classroom and send home to their families.  They are so proud to show off their hard work!

Check out some of my puzzles!  There are puzzles aligned to Fundations Centers, Wit and Wisdom Centers, Eureka Math Centers, and any classroom centers!  Click on the picture to go to that center.  There are even more puzzles available in my store.

​Scroll down to get your freebie!

    Self-Correcting Puzzle Freebie!

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1 Comment
zidane link
9/30/2022 02:42:17 am

very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you

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    Miriam taught kindergarten and first grade for 5+ years in New Orleans.

    She has a Masters Degree in Child Development from the University of Oxford!

    Miriam currently lives in Washington, D.C.

    Check out her Resources!

    Follow Her on Instagram @oxboxteaching

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