There seems to be lots of complaints about the quizzes. I would suggest that rather than complaining about the quizzes students are really complaining about their grades. "How dare they receive low grades?" they ask. One solution could be to get rid of the quizzes. I prefer another solution - spend a bit more time studying for the quizzes.
The point of the quizzes is to make sure you have an overall understanding of the sefer. I've found that quizzes on a parasha help you do this (New York Times article seems to point in this direction too: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/science/21memory.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1). I'm open to other suggestions but until you convince me otherwise there is no other solution than studying the parasha well.
The better overall understanding we have of the sefer the deeper appreciation of the themes and ideas found in the sefer.
I do recommend that during leigning on shabbat you listen or read the Torah carefully so that you can be more familiar with the text.
Some tips in studying - I recommend reading the Hebrew - the English is an imperfect translation. I recommend studying a few minutes each night i.e. read an aliya a day (there are 7 aliyas for 7 days) and on Thursday night for mishmar review the whole parasha. I recommend testing each other. I recommend studying a unit (Artscroll breaks it up nicely) and reviewing it as a unit.
Im totally fine with the quizzes so far. Of course I'd rather straightforward messages but some thought questions are interesting too. Im happy though because of my generally high score. Like a class leading 92 on the last quiz! NBD
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with that article in the least. I believe that instead of making us study hours upon hours per week for a quiz for which we did not learn the material, you could try to have a bit more of a heart, instead of being totally evil, and realize that these quizzes are shutting us down, and they have not taaught us a single thing except how to read an Artscroll Chumash. Another thing: Yes, Rabbi, grades do matter. Next time you try to tell us that the participation grades balance out the quizzes, just remember that yes, we do care about our grades, and yes, every single student in this class, if given an F as a grade, will try to do something about it. Think about it; no one wants an F, am I right?
ReplyDeleteAs I sit here and look for another interesting post to comment on I am sorely disappointed that I have to look at the same blog. how do I follow this thing so I can start blogging, dang it!
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