The Giftedness in all Children
Understanding Learning Styles Allows Parents, Educators, and Students to Excel in Education
Spring and summer fashions are in full bloom right now, as you prepare to outfit your child for the season, it is an excellent time to outfit your child for excellence in education by finding your child's personal "learning style".
People learn in at least eight different ways, according to the Multiple Intelligences Theory. They learn visually, verbally, physically,
mathematically, musically,
naturalistically, through group activity, or through quite thinking time. While working on my Master's Degree project, "Finding the
Giftedness in all Children", I was able to see how each child in my classroom relied more heavily on one learning style to help them process information. Most people exhibit more than one of the learning styles. Think about yourself and your child as you read about the different types of intelligences.
- Visual/Spatial learners enjoy photography, visual metaphors, puzzles, illustrations, and story maps. Seeing a bar graph would be a better learning tool that hearing something read aloud.
- Verbal/Linguistic learners shine in activities like storytelling, public speaking, drama, and journal writing. Writing about what they learned and telling it to an audience would be a good learning tool.
- Bodily/Kinesthetic learners thrive on hands-on-experiments, field trips, body language, crafts and sports. Actively participating would benefit this type of learner.
- Logical/Mathematical learners tend to be better at problem-solving, coding, data collecting, money management, and scientific methods.
- Musical/Rhythmic students may play an instrument, sing, hum or tap during work or require background music while they study. Turn memorization into rhythmic word play and set it to any musical style.
- Intrapersonal learners work better alone, doing individual study, personal goal-setting and self-esteem activities.
- Interpersonal learners work better in group activities, such as clubs, peer teaching, conflict mediation, and active discussions.
- Naturalist learners tend to better understand ideas when it is related to a natural occurrence.
How do you learn? How does your child learn?
It is important to remember that your child will be better prepared if he or see understands how he or she best learns. Plan activities that will benefit your child's learning style. Share your observations with teachers. Help your child excel in his or her education.
Student Today are More Stressed
"Eighty-four percent of teachers surveyed say that students are more stressed today than 10 years ago." (Sylvan Learning Center, January 2008 ) Despite this increase there are ways students and parents can de-stress for spring success.
When it comes to stress levels throughout the school year, teachers most frequently cited spring as the season for stress. It is no surprise that spring has become synonymous with stress due to end of the year assessments, projects, extracurricular activities, sports, and for high school students, college admissions. The many stressor of the final months of school can lead to frustration and hinder academic achievement for some students. However, parents can help their children reduce spring anxiety and achieve a balanced, healthy, and academically successful year.Inside and outside the classroom, there are ways that students can manage their workload and create time for stress-reducing activities at home. - Spring cleaning: Organization both at home and school will save students time by eliminating the need to search for homework assignments, books, and other items necessary for spring success. Create a "homework zone" that house study tools and allows students to study without distraction.
- Spring check-up: Stay informed about the end of the school year activities for which your child will be responsible. Encourage students to use planners to create time lines or place a large calendar with deadlines and test dates in a visible area of the house.
- Spring in your step: Exercise is a great way to alleviate stress and stimulate the mind. Taking short exercise breaks between assignments can refresh a student's energy level and renew focus.
- Spring break: Compressing study time into one all nighter may seem like a good way to save time, but the brain is less efficient without a sleep break, and a student's memory can be affected. A better alternative is to ensure your child obtains the recommended amount of sleep by spreading study efforts over a period of time.
- Spring forward: Use your family's "found time" to celebrate spring success! Show your child that you are confident in his or her academic abilities and reward the little things-improved concentration while studying or proactively organizing her homework space.
Happy Spring and de-stressing!
