Mr. Gibson Science ClassFall 2011

A Harvard Study in “Gibberish”

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

• “Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”

Look at the statement to the right…

Can you decipher what it says?

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

• “Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”

Did you figure it out?

(Chat with your neighbor if you are close to the answer.)

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

• “Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”• “Good morning! How are you?”

Is that what you answered?

If so… hip, hip, hurray!!!

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

“I am a swborvt at Mnbexin Hbmh Srbppl.”

Look at the statement below…

Can you decipher what it says?

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

“I am a swborvt at Mnbexin Hbmh Srbppl.”

Got it?

A Harvard Study in “gibberish”

“I am a swborvt at Mnbexin Hbmh Srbppl.”“I am a student at Madison High School.”

Got it?

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

So what is going on? “Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”“Good morning! How are you?”

Before I explain… get into a mini-team of two people and see if

you can “posit” a hypothesis in the proper “If… then…” question

format. Use a dry-erase note pad to play with the sentences

above. See if you can observe some patterns that are similar to

both sentences. Once done I’ll give you a few more

“observations” to check your hypothesis.

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

Another Observation:

One observation or hint: First and last letters…

“Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”“Good morning! How are you?”

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

Another Observation:

Another observation or hint: each word that corresponds

to the translated word has the same number of letters

too…

“Gxxd mvloxig! Hnw aue ylu?”“Good morning! How are you?”

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

The Answer:

When the human brain “decodes” the symbols that represent letters that are put together to form words and then ideas…

… it only focuses on the first & last letters AND the correct number of letters.

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

The Answer:

When you learn to read you train your brain that the word “good” begins with a “g” and ends with a “d” and that it is a four letter word. After awhile it no longer needs the correct letters in between.

That is why your reading speeds pick up with learning to spell AND write properly.

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

“Food” for thought:

What do you think a person is training their brain to do when they don’t find spelling & writing to be worth their time to do a lot of –and- correctly?

Harvard Study in “gibberish”

“Food” for thought:

Literacy is the only armor that will protect you in life!!!

TRAIN the BRAIN!!!!