Book Review
The "Power" of Two
By Dr. Robert K. Greenleaf
Dr. Greenleaf has designed this booklet to demonstrate the learning power of activities and interactions, which involve two people. Given my experience with students of all ages, elementary through adult, I have come to believe that learning experiences involving pairs are powerful and underutilized. As educators, we focus much time on group work. Group work has its advantages, but it also can be problematic. Paired work, or the power of two, is quick, can take as little as two to five minutes, and be a very effective learning strategy consistent with multiple intelligence theory and the latest research on brain based learning. Imagine a classroom, especially one on a block schedule, punctuated by 5-10 minute paired interactions that reinforce the lesson being taught.
Well, the next question is, how? What does it look like? How do I do it? That is where Dr. Greenleaf’s book comes in. In an easy to use format, clear and to the point, Greenleaf describes thirty-one different paired activities! As he states in his booklet, "Causing learners to experience multiple, integrated, relevant ways of knowing…to gain appreciation and understanding, is the target of [his] book." He accomplishes this task by presenting ideas and activities that are easily transferred into everyday practice.
Greenleaf also presents matrices for parings to demonstrate how a class of twenty would be arranged for ease of moving into activities quickly. The matrices can be altered to address the number of students in your class.
You can order The Power of Two by calling (207) 793-8675, by mail at Dr. Robert K Greenleaf, Greenleaf Learning, PO Box 186, Newfield, ME 04056 or through e-mail Bob@greenleaflearning.com
This Book Review was originally published in the July, 2002 issue of Teachers Net Gazette.
About the Author
Susan Fitzell is a nationally recognized speaker and author of several educational resource books. She has over two decades of experience with differentiated instruction, teaching youth with special needs, students with behavioral and anger management issues, and students who experience bullying. Susan’s company, AIMHI Educational Programs, focuses on building caring school communities. http://aimhieducational.com/