Search Results for: blog the seven intelligences which one best describes your child

What is the Right Way …

I’ve homeschooled my children from the beginning, and have given advice to countless moms who want to begin teaching their children at home. Among the questions I hear are these: “What is the right way to encourage my children?” “How do I help them feel motivated?” “What can I do to keep their interest?” When I am asked these questions, I always turn to them and say, “You’re the only one who has the answer to that.” As parents, we know our children inside and out. We know them in ways that no teacher, professor, principal, or friend ever could. … Continue reading →

Tips for Writing Research Papers

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Research and term papers are now being required from students as early as elementary school. Many middle school students take courses on how to create and type research papers. Learning how to write a good research paper is a key tool to being successful in college. Most college courses, especially graduate courses, require students to write at least one research paper in which sources must be cited. Writing a good paper must begin with preparation. Before you get started on your first research paper, examine the papers of others. Ask your teacher to see examples of work that he or … Continue reading →

When Teachers Compare Siblings

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Prejudging students by looks, other teachers’ comments, or by family association is not a good idea. However in many cases it does happen. How many of you with older brothers or sisters have ever had your teachers compare you to them? In some areas students and families are in and out of schools so much that teachers never see two siblings in their classroom. However other areas are more well grounded and families stay much or all of their lives. In some cases a teacher may have the opportunity to teach a parent and all of the children. I have … Continue reading →

So, Your Child Wants to Play Guitar

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One day your child comes home from school and says, “Wow, my friend Slash just got a really cool Gibson Les Paul Guitar and a new amp. When can you get me a guitar so we can have a BAND?” Well…let me be the first one to tell you that depending on the model, guitars range in price anywhere from $50.00 (Garage Sale model) to $10,000.00 (Collector’s Edition endorsed by an overpaid, famous musician). At this point it might behoove the parent to inform the child that they would be willing to get the child the $50.00 Garage Sale Version … Continue reading →

The Importance of Songs, Poems, and Rhymes in the Classroom

If any of you have searched the websites of teachers or teaching websites (especially those of preschool, kindergarten, or primary grades) you have probably noticed that most of these sites feature renditions of popular chants, rhymes, and songs. These writings add new words to old favorites to fit a particular theme or time of year. For example you may see “The Ten Little Indians” changed to “The Ten Little Turkeys”. For each unit or thematic focus, I try to have at least two or three of these remakes. The key is to have a tune that children already know and … Continue reading →

Why Children Should Move in the Classroom

If any of you have spent much time with a young or primary age child, you have probably noticed that he or she loves to move. Movement is natural for children. Children are supposed to move. It is what they were designed to do and they do it well. Children love dancing, running, hopping, and anything else that requires them to use their bodies. For this reason, movement is very important in a primary classroom. As you know from previous articles, kinesthetic learners greatly base their learning on movement. However, movement and learning are greatly connected with learning for all … Continue reading →

A Middle School Lesson Plan that Addresses Different Types of Learners

Through a previous series of articles, I have discussed and described various types of learners that teachers encounter in the classroom. I have also listed some ideas to help teachers reach these learners through their lessons. I have now been giving examples of lesson plans that display information presented in various forms in order to reach more children during one presentation of material. My last article detailed a lesson plan for primary grades. The lesson plan was intended to reach the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. This article will focus on the middle school grades. I have taught both middle … Continue reading →

Teaching Kinesthetic Learners

Teaching kinesthetic learners can be very trying for some teachers. Many teachers are still stuck in the thought that students should sit perfectly still and listen. Any movement indicates to the teacher that the student is not listening and learning. However, teaching kinesthetic learners can be very fun. Lessons that involvement movement and activity is usually enjoyed by all students and the teacher alike. While kinesthetic students actually need the movement to enhance their lesson, most other types of learners of students will find the activities interesting and entertaining. When planning a lesson for kinesthetic students involve as much physical … Continue reading →

Characteristics of Kinesthetic Learners

This is the last type of learner in my series of learning types that teachers should strive to meet the needs of in their lesson plans. Previously I gave the characteristics of auditory and visual learners. I also gave teachers ideas on how to reach the needs of these students in the classroom. This article will focus on the group of learners that learn best through movement. Students who need movement for enrichment and learning are called kinesthetic learners. This type of students is also sometimes known as the tactile learner group. Students in this group need frequent movement through … Continue reading →

Teaching Visual Learners

Teaching in itself can be a big undertaking. However when considering that you have the needs of a class of twenty or more students to fulfill may be overwhelming. Many teachers feel that planning lessons to meet the needs of everyone is a large job to handle. While intensive planning for some of these students may be, creating a diverse lesson does not have to be hard. Simply changing and adjusting a few of your teaching strategies can reach many more learners than one would expect. When considering the visual learners in your classroom, plan as many visual aides as … Continue reading →