Prof. Kent Rates Peers as No. 1

Fourth in a series. 

Re: “How to be Effective in the Classroom”

Although she was reluctant to use the term out loud, Prof. Kelly Kent’s topic was gifted students.

The School Board candidate was saying that without a second adult available,  the single way to be an effective teacher in a classroom with various learning levels was to divide students into small groups – with a leader.

Which brought up the “gifted” student.

“Gifted students often don’t like to be a peer instructor for a classmate who is struggling,” Dr. Kent said. “They consider it boring and unfulfilling. So it may not work to have the group be mixed.

“The only solution for a teacher with a room of 25 students,” said the professor of neuroscience, “is to have small groups.”

Theories of educational techniques long have fascinated Dr. Kent, a graduate of the elite Friends Academy in New York City.

“When I was in high school and in my 20s, I had no idea how important peer education was,” she said. “It wasn’t until I got into psychology and neuroscience, and even became an educational trainer myself, that I realized adults are really important. Role models are huge.

“But,” said Dr. Kent, “peers speak mountains more, especially in adolescent years. Even in academics, it is really important. I can see it in myself.”

(To be continued)