It also helps to build a caring classroom community where children learn to take turns speaking and ask questions about each other’s interests.

The cons to show and tell usually occur in poorer schools where the students may not have anything to bring in to share with the class. This could lead to some students feeling inadequate or jealous of his or her classmates. This should not be a problem for you since you teach in an elite private school.

I’d say show and tell looses its effectiveness after 2nd grade, but remember that each group of students is different. You may need to make show and tell a half-year event if the students aren’t getting anything out of it.

* Can you tie the Show and Tell into an academic theme? You know, bring something that represents Italy or has to do with music or is related to amphibians (hmmm, maybe not THAT one!)–whatever you are studying that week.

* Post and send home a schedule, giving each child plenty of time to prepare. Attach a rubric, if that’s common in your school.

* Do the first Show and Tell yourself to model your expectations. Give the children a copy of your rubric and let them “grade” your Show and Tell.

However, I think it needs to be taken away from the “toy” category and you need to set some guidelines of what you want them to bring.

Try making categories and have them find something to fit that category to bring. For example, if you are doing something on different cultures, have them try and find something around their home or in a magazine, etc. on a different culture and bring it to discuss. I really do think first graders are capable of this if done right … they’re pretty smart little kids!

Up to the high school level, I would see it more on the lines of “We are studying Spain in geography class. Each one of you needs to go out and find something that represents Spain to you and tell us why.”

I think that “Show and Tell” can connect lessons to what kids see in the real world.

Do it once a month instead – but make it more of a “project” with a history of the object, maybe some minor writing involved.