| Differentiation is just as important in teaching good study strategies as it is to teach the materials to be studied. Everyone is different, different methods work for different people. As a teacher we need to utilize whatever it takes to enhance student learning. We will differentiate by Readiness, Interest, & Learning Styles.
(Does this sound familiar?) Readiness Are they “ready” to learn?
We must assess what they know in order to teach them what they need to know. At each grade level, incoming students have vastly different levels of ability and understanding. At the beginning of the school term, as well as at the beginning of each unit of instruction, the teacher may not know what students have been taught and what they have retained. Pre-assessment is a useful tool that can help determine what needs to be reviewed, emphasized, or introduced for the first time. After students have taken a pre-test, the teacher can determine both the range of students' knowledge and understanding. Pre-testing is a great strategy to improve students’ learning. Interest Are they “interested” in learning?
Think about this…The first time a student hears new information, unless the student is interested in learning it or connects it with prior knowledge or something they already know, the chances are that the next time they hear it will be just another first time. Let think about this even more, if you do not have the student’s attention/ interest, they probably will not learn and if they are not interested they will not pay attention. The chances are that your students are not going to learn or remember anything they are not interested in. So what should you do? Create an interest! Make learning/ studying/ homework fun. Learning Styles Are their “learning styles” being optimized?
Auditory learners are typically good at absorbing information from spoken words.
Strategies that work well for auditory learners include:
*Talking to themselves or with others about what they’re learning
*Reciting important information aloud, perhaps recording it and playing it back
*Reading a book and listening to the audio book at the same time
*Using word associations
*Setting information to a tune and singing it to help remember it
*Limiting distracting noises Kinesthetic learners prefer to be active while studying and may not be able to focus while sitting still.
Strategies for kinesthetic learners include:
*Reading aloud and tracking words on a page with a finger
*Writing things down multiple times to commit them to memory
*Highlighting and underlining
*Playing with a stress ball or toy while studying
*Moving around or taking frequent breaks
*Doing hands-on activities, such as building models or playing games
Visual learners benefit from seeing information on a chalkboard or in an illustration and may grow impatient listening for long periods of time.
Strategies for visual learners include:
*Using flash cards
*Study charts, tables, maps. and other graphic organizers
*Drawing illustrations
*Writing things down and reviewing notes
*Highlighting and underlining
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