Thots to Ponder

1. When God made the earth He could have finished it. But He didn't. He left it as raw material--to tease us, to tantalize us, to set us thinking and experimenting and risking and adventuring. And therein we find our supreme interest in living.
2. He gave us the challenge of raw materials, not the satisfaction of perfect, finished things.
3. He left the music unsung, the dramas unplayed. He left the poetry undreamed, in order that we might become, not bored, but engage in stimulating, exciting, creative activities that keep us thinking, working, experimenting, & experiencing all the joys & durable satisfactions of achievement.

The Best Teachers...

"The best teachers and parents are the ones who are able to think outside the box and put themselves in the mind-set of the children they teach. They are able to find what works and are willing to try many different techniques until they discover the best solution to helping their children learn."

excerpt from The Excellent 11, Ron Clark

Learning Styles and Work Habits

I'm learning to take the time to meditate and pray about my kids' personalities and individual needs. I see that I can't compare them to each other or other kids. A method that works for one might not work for the other. Each is unique and has their own way of learning from life and it's imperative that I understand this! When it comes to the kids' work habits I sometimes run a bit short of patience. Well, when I stop and pray, I'm shown the way. Often the key to keeping myself from feeling like a nag is to stop talking (more like yelling in some cases) so much and pointing out every little thing the kids missed doing. Instead, when I quietly try to find a way to teach the kids how to do better or encourage them for what they did do, clean up times go more smoothly.

I found these notes recently:

Research has helped educators identify numerous distinct learning preferences in people. At home you can also identify some of your child's preferred ways of gathering information by asking the following questions.

"Would you rather work by yourself, with a friend, or with Mom or Dad?"
Style: Individual, Group, or Family

"Should we use a chart to show your responsibilities, or can I just tell you what you should do?"
Style: Reader or Listener

"Do you want me to explain carefully how to wash the car or would you rather read & follow the directions on the can of car wash yourself?"
Style: Detailed Instruction or Discovery

Consider the example of Erica, an eight-year-old, who spends every free minute with her nose in a book. Her mother's words seem to go in one ear & out the other. Erica's style is the written word. A note that lists her job assignments will have more impact than will constantly telling her what must be done. (Most of my kids are like Erica!) In the same family, John likes to talk, & to listen intently as his father reads to him. John can be told what needs to be done & does it--he is a listener! Some children like to work with a group of people. For them a "family clean-up hour" will produce more help than an assignment to work alone. Other children enjoy private time & do an excellent job working independently.

Learning Styles

Here are some excerpts that I really like from a book called School Proof, by Mary Pride:

What can we give each child that is special?

Recognize children's different learning styles.

Adjust the content of teaching to their roles & talents, &, to a lesser extent, their interests.

Adjust the speed of teaching.

Not penalize children for their legitimate difference, e.g., by grades & labeling.

God gave us four main ways to take in data:

Visual Learners

Are you easily distracted by new sights? Do you remember where you put things? Are you good at catching typos & doing puzzles? Are you very aware of visual details in drawings? Do you remember names better when you see them on a name tag? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you are a visual learner.

Visual learners need to see what they are supposed to do. Some materials that are good for visual learners are:

FLASH CARDS

MATCHING GAMES

PUZZLES

INSTRUCTION BOOKS

CHARTS

PICTURES, POSTERS, WALL STRIPS

Auditory Learners

Do you like to talk a lot? Do you talk to yourself? As a child, were you a "babbler"? Do you remember names easily? /can you carry a tune? Do you like to "keep the beat" along with the music? Do you read out loud or sub-vocalize during reading? Can you follow oral directions more easily than written directions? When taking tests, do you frequently know the answer, but have trouble expressing it on paper? Then you are an auditory learner.

Auditory learners learn best by hearing. They need to be told what to do. Good materials for auditory learners are:

CASSETTE TAPES

EDUCATIONAL SONGS & RHYMES (LIKE THE ABC SONG)

RHYTHM INSTRUMENTS

Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners

Were you always grabbing for things? Did you always run your finger across the boards when walking past a fence? Do you move around a lot & use animated gestures & facial expressions when talking? Can you walk along the curb without losing your balance? Do you prefer hugs from your spouse rather than verbal praise? Do you like to take things apart? Are you always fooling with paper or something on your desk when you're on the phone? If so, then you're a kinesthetic learner.

Hands on learning is a must for kinesthetic learners. Kinesthetic learners learn to read best by learning to write. Kinesthetic learners do not like sitting at a desk for hours staring at the blackboard. For kinesthetic learners, try:

LONG NATURE WALKS

MODEL KITS

YARD WORK & GARDENING

TEXTURED PUZZLES

TYPING INSTEAD OF WRITING (IT'S FASTER & LESS FRUSTRATING)

Manipulative materials & a good phonics program cure reversals in kinesthetic learners, who are the group most frequently labeled "dyslexic."

(end of excerpt)