Let's Standardize This Marshmallow Test for Kindergarteners

categories: Education and Business, Standardized Tests, Teaching Ideas and Resources

Published May 30, 2009 @ 01:06PM PT

Marshmallows are sort of bubbly, so don't let your bias for bubble-tests dissuade you, College Board: there may be a way to mark up the marshmallows and make a pretty penny off this. We can use it to look 2nd-graders in the eye and tell them they're not on track for college.

(Seriously, this 5-minute video is worth a watch for both its psychological suggestions and its comedy. Kids do the darnedest things.)
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Loved this when a colleague showed it to me last week. Then I showed it to my AP students. Wonder how many will take the message to heart. :)

Posted by Jodi Rice on 05/30/2009 @ 04:17PM PT
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Great update -- I used to show a clip of an older version of the study (with M&Ms) to my psychology students and got some interesting responses:
"What if they just don't like M&Ms?"
"Did they select only kids who liked M&Ms?"
"What if the kids who seem to have the ability to delay gratification just ate lunch?"
also
"What actually defines 'success'?"
"What if those kids labeled 'unsuccessful' were just late bloomers and learned good life lessons from their struggles?"

Makes me wonder, like I always do, about the ability to really generalize from this type of research -- aka predictability of pre-pre SATs!!!???

Posted by Lynn Rambo on 05/30/2009 @ 06:49PM PT
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Great questions, Lynn. My wife (Korean) said "Kids don't like marshmallows!" - an interesting reflection on the taste buds of Asians, who generally find all our Western sweets _way_ too sugary.

My ears perked up when he said "successful" too, but he seemed careful to add "happy" and socially well-adjusted after starting with the suspicious "grade standard."

Above all, I just love the clever (and hyper-ventilating) girl at the end. Laughed my a$$ off.

Posted by Clay Burell on 05/30/2009 @ 07:09PM PT
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Clay is an American high school Humanities teacher, technology coach, and Apple Distinguished Educator who has taught for the last eight years in Asian international schools. According to law, he's married to his wife. According to his wife, he's married to his Mac.