Learning styles preschoolers: Identify Strengths For Better Learning

Identify Strengths For Better Learning

Helping Kids Succeed Through Different Learning Styles

“What’s Learning Style Got to do With It?” sounds like the refrain of a pop song. If only we could relax, sit back, and sing the chorus without a worry in the world.

As parents, we want to help our kids learn so they will progress through school. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and, yes, this holds true when it comes to how we learn.

Everyone has a preferred learning style that highlights how we best process, retain, and recall information.

So, if your child has struggled with particular subjects or teachers in the past, it may have had more to do with the way the material was presented than the information itself.

If distanced learning is proving to be an uphill battle and you’re already feeling the stress and frustration of the new school year, understanding your child’s preferred learning style just might crack the code to your child’s engagement and success.

Once you identify your child’s learning style you can better tailor the curriculum to meet their needs.

The SparkNotes of Children’s Learning Styles Theory

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase multiple intelligences. Professor Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences identified different categories of intelligence to explain range of strengths people have.

He felt that one general idea of intelligence did not do the human experience justice.

 Similarly, each differnet learning style represents a way in which people process Information The theory behind learning styles recognizes that the way we learn best is dependent on strengths and interests we have.

Understanding your child’s preferred learning style(s) will help find the best ways to approach the curriculum to support engagement and foster success while your child learns from home.

Recommended Books on Learning Styles

Make It Stick, written by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel, introduce cognitive psychology (how we think) into educational settings. They detail strategies for using mental processes such as focus, attention, memory, perception, creativity, and problem solving to improve understanding and retention of new information. A must read!

Mindset, written by Carol Dweck, PhD, set the educational landscape on fire when her book was published. A Stanford researcher for decades, Dweck demonstrates how our success in life in nearly all areas, including education and career, is dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities. She identifies fixed and growth mindsets and helps readers to identify their own mindset.

Brain Tools for Teens, written by Malin Gutestam, a secondary teacher for over 20 years, presents evidenced-based research on how the brain learns and provides over 160 tips to help teens not only learn better, but function better in all aspects of their lives. Teens and parents will finally have an instruction manual for not only surviving, but thriving, during the teen years.

Discovery Your Child’s Learning Style, written by Mariaemma Willia and Victoria Kindle Hodson, shines a light on how your child learns, when they learn best, and how to use your child’s personality and temperament to foster a love of learning. She shows parents how to take into account their child’s interests, personality, talents, and disposition for creating a success plan for school and life.

So, What are the 7 Different Learning Styles 

There are seven different learning styles referenced in modern education. Your child may prefer one or more when it comes to their educational experience. Most students have two they like.

1) Visual (Spatial) Learners

Visual learners process information best when it can be seen. These students ttypically learn best when thinking in pictures over words. From graphs and tables to maps and diagrams, these students like to “see” ideas, details, or instructions over simply having them said aloud.

While the students who prefer this learning style tend to have an easier time seeing the big picture, visual stimulation creates easy distractions.

If your child has a well-developed imagination or strong artistic talents, they might have a strength as a visual learner.

2) Auditory (Musical) Learners

Auditory learners have the most success when they are listening. Whether it be a lecture or sounding unknown-words aloud while reading by themselves, these students shine when they can process auditory information.

On the other hand, auditory learners can become easily distracted by background noise.

If your child is musically minded or prefers audiobooks to flipping pages, the auditory learning style might just be their preference.

3) Kinesthetic (Physical) Learners

Kinesthetic learners find success with hands-on opportunities. This learning style is perfect for the doers and movers who prefer a more tactile experience over sitting still and listening quietly. From building models to conducting experiments, these learners enjoy having an active role in educational experiences.

With that said, children who prefer kinesthetic opportunities tend to have difficulty sitting still for longer periods of time.

If your child often fidgets or is highly active, they may prefer a kinesthetic approach to their learning.

 If your child has struggled in the traditional classroom is diagnosed with ADHA, I highly suggest exploring kinesthetic learning opportunities.

4) Verbal (Linguistic) Learners

Verbal learners are all about words, both spoken and written. Verbal learners process information best when they are writing notes down, reading about the topic at hand, or talking through the material.

Children who prefer a verbal learning style might shy away from — or even struggle with — more number-based activities and interpreting abstract visuals like graphs.

If your child flourishes when it comes to reading and writing, they likely lean toward a verbal learning style.

5) Logical (Mathematical) Learner

Logical learners thrive when the material is supported by logical reasoning. These students process information best when it involves systems, order, or facts. While these learners often take an organized and methodical approach to information, they might struggle with more creative activities and big-picture ideas.

 If your child finds enjoyment in logic puzzles and enjoys activities that involve reasoning and problem solving, they likely prefer a logical learning style.

6) Social (Interpersonal) Learner

Social learners soar when other people are involved. They learn best when they can communicate with others and receive feedback on their ideas. From group projects to group discussions, students who prefer this learning style process information as they engage with people. On the other hand, social learners may lack confidence when it comes to individual activities.

If you would describe your child as a people-person or social butterfly, consider incorporating a social approach to the material when possible.

Students who prefer this learning style have been hit particularly hard with the onset of distanced learning.

7) Solitary (Intrapersonal Learner)

Solitary learners prefer independent learning opportunities whenever possible. Children who prefer a solitary approach to learning function well when they have their own quiet space to engage with the material at hand. These students can struggle in noisier environments that require working closely with others. 

If your child tends to keep to themself and engages in self-reflection and self-regulation,  they will likely lean toward a solitary learning style.

While this learning style may be easy to accommodate during distance learning, it is important to foster opportunities for social interaction when possible to help encourage the development of interpersonal skills.

Click the image below to download the “7 Learning Styles” Infographic for easy reference.

How To Identify Your Child’s Learning Style

Now that you know a little bit about what the learning styles are, the next step is being able to identify how your child learns best. Consider these tips to help:

• Observe what they do. Pay attention to their patterns of actions, interests, and preferences to better understand how they process information.
• There’s no shame in asking for the teacher’s help when it comes to identifying your child’s learning preferences. Reaching out to current or former teachers who have worked closely with your child can help you understand what subjects and activities your child excelled in or struggled with in the past.
• Engage your child in the process of understanding how they learn best. Ask them questions: Why was that difficult? What did you like about that lesson? Would you prefer to do A or B? Not only will this help you understand their preferences, but it will also allow them to take some ownership of their educational experience.
• Trial and error! Pay attention to what works and what doesn’t work. Make adjustments as needed. Your child may express new preferences as they are exposed to different experiences and develop new skills.

Resources for Discovering Your Child’s Learning Style

As you pay more attention to how your child interacts with the world around them, it will be easier to identify their strengths and preferences that can point to a preferred learning style. Perhaps, after simply reading this, you already know what theirs may be.

If you’re looking for a little extra guidance or an interactive activity to get your child involved in this process, there are a variety of free online resources you can turn to. I’ve rounded up a few below:

• Check out this 20-question learning style quiz for kids. This series of multiple-choice questions will help identify your child’s learning preferences.
• This 12-question children’s learning style questionnaire is great. While it is relatively short in length, the ability to select multiple options for each answer paints a more holistic picture.
• This classic kid’s learning style survey asks a series of 10 multiple-choice questions suitable for younger learners. This quiz is printer friendly!
• While there is a small fee to receive the results for this test, it provides a more complete and comprehensive report, including a detailed explanation of your child’s multiple intelligences as well as their learning style. Don’t want to spend the money? You will receive a snapshot of the results for free.

Criticism On the Validity of Learning Styles

The idea of learning styles was developed in the 1970s. It quickly gained popularity and began to be taught to aspiring teachers in college.

However, there is a growing body of professionals who believe that categorizing students into learning styles are an oversimplification.

There have been numerous studies that indicate a person’s preferred mode of learning does not translate into actual improved learning or performance.

Three such articles are found in this higher education academic journal, this educational psychology journal, and this report .

In the widely lauded book, Make It Stick,  the authors proclaim,

“The popular notion that you learn better when you receive instruction in a form consistent with your preferred learning style, for example as an auditory or visual learner, is not supported by the empiral research. People do have multiple forms of intelligence to bring to bear on learning, and you learn better when you “go wide,” drawing on all of your aptitudes and resourcefulness, than when you limit instruction or experience to the style you find most amenable.”

The authors are suggesting that people may have preferred methods for learning, but those methods are not correlated with an increase in learning ability or retention of knowledge.

The American Psychological Association recently published a press release suggesting that the belief in learning styles has a negative effect on teacher preparation and presentation in the classroom.

Teachers may spend a great deal of time and money creating lessons that cater to specific learning styles when students learn best through exposure to a variety of learning experiences.

Supporting Learning Styles at Home

Take into account the way your child thinks and moves. Offering options for where to learn, whether that’s at the kitchen table or upside down off the side of the couch, may help to sync their preferences to the current school mode of learning. 

If your child is having a hard time understanding a concept or completing an activity, try reframing it to match up with their preferred learning style.

Say your child is having a hard time learning vocabulary. Would it help if they drew pictures to represent each definition? Could they come up with a song to help them remember the spelling?  

Maybe they need to write each word and definition down or read them aloud over and over again until it clicks. Sometimes a new perspective and a change in approach are all that is needed to ignite an understanding, spark an interest, and build confidence.

While it is important to understand and play to your child’s strengths, it is equally as important to understand their weaknesses. It’s good to step outside of our comfort zones now and again, especially since overcoming challenges helps us learn and grow.

By offering a variety of experiences that weave in different learning styles, your child will be able to improve their skills across the board, and perhaps develop a new interest or two along the way.

Celebrating what makes your child unique shouldn’t end when it comes to their education.I encourage you to embrace this chance for your child to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Chances are, success will follow.

4 Learning Styles That Make Learning Easy-Peasy For Kids

Children see the world in their own ways and, therefore, their learning styles also vary. It is because of this reason that parents and teachers often face challenges in making them learn. They also use differentiated instruction to help kids learn & retain concepts better.

So, first we have to understand and acknowledge the individual needs of the children to make them learn.

How do Kids Learn?

Every kid has a strategy that they use to remember information more efficiently. While studying, some students take notes, some make diagrams and some prefer to listen to lectures. Since no learning style fits all students, scientists have conducted research in order to understand the way students learn.

Let’s look at the different types of learning that the scientists have distinguished.

Exploring Learning Styles: The VARK Model

One of the popular theories the scientists have developed to make the children learn is called the VARK model. The acronym VARK stands for Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic sensory modalities that are used for learning. This model was suggested by Fleming and Mills to reflect the experiences of the students and teachers in 1992.

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The VARK model identifies four types of learners – visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic. 

VARK model Learning Styles

Most children are a combination of these four styles, but very often they have a predominant style of learning. Each of these styles has a complementary way of teaching. Now, let’s see the characteristics each of these styles entail and how to make best use of them to make children learn.

We will also discuss how to identify children on the basis of their learning needs and adopt suited teaching methods for them.

Visual Learning Style

Visual learners take in information visually, through maps, graphs, diagrams and charts. However, they don’t necessarily respond well to photos or videos. They prefer absorbing their information using different visual aids such as patterns and shapes.

The best way to present information to such children is by showing them the relationship between different ideas visually. For instance, when explaining a scientific process, it can be done by using a flow chart.

Related Reading: Best Tips for Creating a Healthy Student-Centered Learning Environment

How to identify visual learners?

Visual learners enjoy observing and analyzing things like pictures, diagrams and charts that showcase information in order of importance. You can find visual learners by paying attention to students who are doodling, making lists in class or diligently taking notes. 

How to teach them?

If you’re using a whiteboard, smartboard or giving a presentation, make sure such a child has enough time to process and absorb visual information. When possible, the child should have access to supplementary handouts that details subject matter through clear visuals whenever possible.

Additionally, allow these learners to draw pictures, diagrams, or doodles of what they are learning, in order to reinforce retention.

Aural Learning Style

Aural learners learn better through hearing or spoken words. Saying things to them loudly helps them understand and retain concepts. Such children learn through lectures and group discussions. They can benefit from repeating back the lessons, having recordings of the lectures, and group activities where the classmates explain ideas.

How to identify aural learners?

Aural learners prefer learning subject matter that is presented through sound. Such children actively engage with lectures. You may find them nodding along or asking frequent questions rather than taking written notes. Additionally, such children might read slowly and read aloud to themselves. They might also repeat things you tell them in order to help with retention. 

How to teach them?

When you’re giving a lecture, make sure you involve such children in the conversation. Have them do things like verbally detailing a new concept they just learned, and ask them follow-up questions while giving them the time they need to respond. Group discussions, engaging videos, and audio recordings are other great ways to engage auditory learners in the classroom.

Engross students in learning visually & aurally with engaging and interactive games by SplashLearn. Watch below how kids in Pre-K to Grade 5 can master Math and Reading skills. 

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Reading/Writing Learning Style

Some children consume information best when it’s in words, whether that’s by writing it down or reading it. To them, text is more powerful than any kind of visual or aural representation of an idea.

These children usually perform very well on written assignments. There are different ways to make such learners engage and understand a certain lesson. For instance, it would be best to have them describe charts and diagrams by written statements, take written quizzes on the topics, or give them written assignments.

Related Reading: What Is Student Centered Learning? Importance & Benefits

How to identify reading/writing learners?

Reading/writing learners prefer written words.They are drawn to textbooks, novels, articles, journals and anything that is text-heavy. Similar to visual learners, you can find reading and writing learners by paying attention to students who take elaborate notes, reference the dictionary to learn new words, or use online search engines to find answers to their questions.

How to teach them?

Such students prefer more traditional methods of subject matter delivery. So, make them read textbooks, write essays and perform in-depth research. But, it’s important to sure that such children have ample time to absorb written course material. They also need to be given every opportunity to get their ideas down on paper or a digital device.

Kinesthetic Learning Style

Kinesthetic learners are individuals who prefer to learn by doing. They enjoy hands-on experience. They are usually more in touch with reality and more connected to it, which is why they require using a tactile experience to understand something better.

The best way to present new information to a kinesthetic learner is through personal experience, practice, examples, or simulations. For instance, they can remember an experiment by recreating it themselves.

How to identify kinesthetic learners?

Such children are “tactile” learners. They prefer to physically act out events or use all of their senses while learning. These types of learners are easy to find, as they likely have a difficult time sitting still and might need frequent breaks during heavy studying periods.  

Related Reading: How to Make Adding and Subtracting Fractions Easy

How to teach them?

Ensure active participation for such children. For example, if you’re teaching Shakespeare, have them act out a scene with a few of their kinesthetic-focused peers. You can also teach them through learning games on SplashLearn that encourage these types of learners to use all of their senses at different points in the lesson.

Precisely,

Understanding different types of learning styles can drastically impact the way parents and teachers handle their children or students.

Therefore, pinpoint how a child or student learns best and adjust lessons keeping in mind the unique need of the child or student. It can dramatically affect their ability to connect with the subject. And remember, these learning styles don’t end in the house or classroom. So, make sure to connect their learning with real-life situations!

Incorporate all Learning Styles in Your Kids’ Education with SplashLearn

SplashLearn creates appealing resources for kids in Pre-K to Grade 5 to comprise different learning styles.

From engaging and attractive games for visual, aural and kinesthetic learners, to comprehensive courses and worksheets for reading and writing learners, SplashLearn aims to transform learning for kids all around the world.

Parents, sign up here!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is meant by learning style?

Learning style can be described as a set of factors, behaviors and attitudes that facilitate learning for an individual in a given situation. Styles influence how students learn, how teachers teach and how the two interact.

What is the most common of four learning styles?

Of the four learning styles, that is, Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic, visual learners are the most common type of learner, making up for 65% of the children. Such children relate best to written information, notes, diagrams and pictures.

What is a personal learning style?

An individual’s learning style refers to the preferential way in which the student absorbs, processes, comprehends and retains information. Individual learning styles depend on cognitive, emotional and environmental factors, as well as one’s prior experience.

What is the difference between VARK questionnaire and Kolb questionnaire?

The VARK questionnaire shows how people use their dominant learning style in an environment, while Kolb’s questionnaire assesses how the students learn.

Effective techniques for teaching children

What are we talking about? There are various methods of teaching children. And although from the point of view of pedagogy they are nothing more than an integral part of a certain style, technology and method of teaching, this does not belittle their importance in the formation of real skills and abilities in a child.

What to pay attention to? The choice of teaching methods is carried out on the basis of the goals, age characteristics and level of preparation of the child. Attention is also drawn to the content of the material in a particular lesson and the total amount of time devoted to studying the material.

The article describes:

1. Children’s learning styles
2. 5 popular learning technologies today
3. Relationship between methods and techniques for teaching children
4. Classification of teaching methods
5. Classification of teaching methods
6. Distinctive features of modern methods of teaching children
7. 5 Useful Teaching Techniques
8. 5 Relatively New Methods for Teaching Children
9. Rules for choosing methods and techniques for teaching children

10. Take the test and find out which area suits you:
    IT, design or marketing.

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Children’s learning styles

Before considering the methods and techniques of teaching children, let’s characterize the pedagogical styles of knowledge delivery. They vary depending on the specific learning situation. The following learning styles are distinguished:

• Visual (visual) style . Suitable for people who perceive information better visually. Drawings, presentations, graphic images and spatial representation are necessary for successful learning.
• Auditory (hearing) style . Suitable for people who perceive information better when they hear it. Sounds, music, audio books are effective for learning.
• Verbal (verbal) style . Preferable for people who are good at absorbing information by reading it or writing it. Oral or written form is the ideal format for learning.
• Kinesthetic (bodily) style . Suitable for those people for whom it is important to rely on tactile sensations in the process of cognition, as well as to carry out specific practical activities.
• Logical (mathematical) style . Preferable for people who value a systematic approach. Arguments, reasoning, logical arguments, evidence in teaching are convincing and most effective in their case.

Children’s learning styles

• Interpersonal (social) style . Suitable for those people for whom group interaction is important for better assimilation of the material.
• Intrapersonal (single) style . Such people are suitable for independent cognitive activity for the assimilation of educational information.

It is important to emphasize that most children do not fit just one learning style, but a combination of them.

5 currently popular learning technologies

One of the most important tasks today is to make the school not only an educational space, but also a self-developing system. It is necessary to create a number of conditions under which students would be active subjects of the process. This is possible when using different technologies and effective teaching methods for preschool and older children. Consider the most common.

Mutual learning

This technology is suitable for learning new topics, deepening knowledge, as well as for repeating and consolidating information or skills. Students can work individually or in groups. If the teacher has chosen a team form of work, then at the end of the lesson it is necessary to check how much the material has been mastered by all students.

It is important that all students participate in group activities. Be sure to take into account the following patterns established by psychologists: the information read is assimilated by 20-30%, the heard is remembered by 30-40%, practical activity contributes to the assimilation by 50-70%.

Active discussion of information from various sources, exchange of ideas, experience, discussions on the topic of differences and contradictions, emotional dialogues are the main components of collective-mutual learning. All of the above creates the conditions for:

• improving skills on the material covered;
• memory development;
• unleashing the potential of schoolchildren due to the fact that they feel confident in the classroom;
• effective individual work, as each student completes tasks independently, despite the group learning format;
• productive interaction with the team, which is the main advantage of this method of learning.

Modular learning

All educational information is divided into separate blocks. The teacher includes tasks of different levels of complexity on the topic being studied. This allows him to apply a person-centered approach. In each training block there are tasks to test the assimilation of the studied material. Any lesson on modular technology can contain in its structure different forms of student activity. For example:

The 1st stage of the lesson is a debate on the topic of the lesson, which contributes to the development of logic, the correct formulation of questions and reasoned answers to them. The debate is based on scientific discussion, which implies cooperation.

2nd stage of the lesson – lecture. The teacher conveys new information to the students, and the students write down the key points. Note-taking develops independence and the ability to work with a large amount of information, isolating significant and secondary ones.

3rd stage of the lesson – fixing lecture information with feedback from students. The teacher asks questions about the topic being studied, and the students answer based on the notes. This allows you to understand how much the educational material has been mastered and what points should be analyzed in more detail.

Working with audio and video materials

The use of this technology in the classroom solves the following tasks:

• immersion of students in the atmosphere of the topic of the lesson or its significant part;
• development of children’s cognitive abilities: attention, observation, choice, anticipation, speculation, etc.;
• teaching analysis of a lesson or part of it;
• development of critical thinking, analytical skills, the ability to comment and interpret the text.

Methods for teaching children using this technology are based on the following stages of working with information:

• Work before watching or listening to video or audio material.
• Direct viewing or listening.
• Work after viewing or listening.

Learning using the techniques of this technology builds students’ confidence, helps to improve knowledge and skills, and develops the skill of independent work.

If there are students among students who want to engage in pedagogical activities in the future, then it is useful to involve them in conducting classes with audio and video materials. This promotes creativity in learning, teaches them to take their work seriously, and emphasizes the importance of their contribution to the learning process.

Developing critical thinking through reading and writing

The purpose of the TRKMT technology is to educate students who are able to engage in independent activities.

Development of critical thinking through reading and writing

Actively used when working with textual material. Includes reading and writing. There are the following stages of work on this technology:

• “Challenge” (motivation). The teacher is interested in the student. For example, an intriguing name or an interesting and unexpected fact.
• “Comprehension”. An interested student reads the text material and depicts it in the form of a diagram, a reference signal according to Shatalov (some kind of associative symbol that replaces the semantic meaning) or draws up a short plan.
• “Reflection”. Discussion of information with classmates. Retelling (oral or written) can be used as a form of speech and memory development.

Integrative approach

The senior level of education, due to its specialized bias, requires a deep practical nature of the classes. Integrative learning is based on an interdisciplinary approach, as well as the principles of pragmatism and individualization of education. This learning-by-doing method has demonstrated the achievement of the following objectives:

• Formation and development of cognitive interest, creativity, skills of independent acquisition of knowledge. This helps to adapt to the dynamics of the educational process.
• Development of communication skills, the ability to conduct a productive dialogue and communicate effectively.
• Education of tolerance, respect for the culture of one’s country and other peoples.
• Career guidance. Students study material from different areas. In comparison, they can understand which activity is more interesting to them. This is how the work on professional self-determination of students takes place.

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The main characteristics of the integrative approach in teaching children:

• Informational aspect of the presentation of the material: students are given the minimum required amount of theory and facts.
• Language aspect: factual knowledge is expressed in lexical and grammatical means.
• Communicative aspect: terminology on the topic enriches students’ vocabulary. Also, communication skills with the interlocutor are improved using the thematic dictionary.
• Cognitive aspect: a large amount of information being studied due to the active use of textual material as a source of theoretical and factual knowledge.

Using the techniques of the integrative method of teaching children allows you to transfer all the functions of communication (cognitive, regulatory, etiquette, value-orientation) to new thematic material.

Relationship between methods and techniques of teaching children

To understand the essence of pedagogical processes, it is important to know how the terms “method” and “technique” are interpreted.

There are several definitions of the term “teaching method”. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.

Teaching methods are the ways in which the teacher and students work together to achieve the goals of education.

Teaching methods are ways of interaction between teachers and students in the implementation of educational, educational and developmental tasks (Yu. K. Babansky).

Teaching methods are methods of pedagogical work of a teacher and organization of educational and cognitive work of students to solve various didactic problems for mastering educational material (IF Kharlamov).

Despite the variety of definitions of the concept of “teaching methods”, they are united by the fact that the authors see in them the joint activity of the teacher and students. Thus, this term reflects the methods and techniques of teaching children used by the teacher, and the learning activities of students to achieve educational goals.

The concept of “teaching methods” is a common term in pedagogy. In the classical sense, they are part of the teaching method. However, the boundaries of concepts are rather blurred. Any method of teaching children consists of separate techniques, each of which solves a specific educational or pedagogical problem.

Relationship between methods and techniques for teaching children

Methods and techniques for teaching children, depending on the pedagogical situation, may change places. The same techniques are used in different methods. In addition, one method for different teachers may include completely opposite techniques. It turns out that the teaching method consists of techniques, but is not a simple sum of its components.

Classification of teaching methods

One of the urgent problems of didactics today is the classification of teaching methods. There is no single generally accepted point of view on this issue. The authors group teaching methods based on various features. Therefore, there are several classifications.

The most common variant is a typology based on the source of knowledge. The following teaching methods are distinguished:

1. Verbal . The source of information is the word (oral or printed).
2. Visual . The basis of knowledge is visual, graphic or subject educational material, observed objects or phenomena.
3. Practical . Students learn a new topic and perform practical tasks to consolidate skills and abilities.
4. Play . Students are immersed in a game situation, to which the educational material is transferred.

Classification of teaching methods

NM Verzilin and VM Korsunskaya worked on a typology of teaching methods in biology. However, the classification proposed by them is systemic and applicable to various disciplines. These authors identified 3 groups of practical methods of teaching children:

1. Logical . They include methods of mental activity: problem formulation, comparison, generalization, proof.
2. Organizational . These techniques are used to focus the attention of students and manage their activities. These include answering at the blackboard, checking independent work.
3. Technical . Include learning techniques using equipment, teaching materials and tools. These include writing on the board, drawings, visual aids, and multimedia tools.

Distinctive features of modern methods of teaching children

Based on the psychological and pedagogical literature, the essential characteristics of modern methods of teaching children are distinguished. This became the basis for the selection of some of them for testing in primary school in order to determine their effectiveness.

Modern methods of teaching children are characterized by:

• focus on achieving subject and meta-subject results;
• stimulation of educational and cognitive activity of students;
• interactivity or dialogue interaction, where the student is the subject of knowledge acquisition;
• motivation for learning activities and active participation;
• the playful nature of teaching methods for children to achieve educational goals.

Modern methods of teaching children are based on a developmental and activity approach. Therefore, the techniques used in the technology of developing critical thinking through reading and writing, as well as the techniques of formative assessment, game, reflective, problem-based learning, technology for solving inventive problems (TRIZ) are very relevant.

5 useful teaching techniques

Using a creative approach to work, teachers, teachers and methodologists create and apply in practice various practical methods for teaching and educating children. It helps to solve many educational problems. Let’s look at some of these methods.

• “Non-standard lesson entry” . The teacher from the very beginning of the lesson includes students in vigorous activity and keeps their attention. For example, it starts with a controversial fact, a warm-up with interesting intellectual tasks, or includes an unexpected piece of music.
• Show of professionalism . An excellent technique for teaching teenagers, according to A. V. Khutorsky. Such a teacher becomes an authority in their eyes. It involves showing the personal performance of some complex, possibly creative task.
• “Beyond” . This method of teaching children assumes that the teacher, analyzing a certain topic, expands its boundaries and gives modern examples, characters of pop culture familiar to children, etc. This is a good way to keep students’ attention, as well as updating the topic under study. In “Modern Didactics” by A. V. Khutorsky, a physics lesson on the topic “Resonance” is given as an example. The teacher starts by asking why an electric guitar can have any body shape, unlike an acoustic guitar. For clarity, the teacher showed photographs of creative instruments of famous musicians. This approach clearly focuses the attention of students and is able to interest them and arouse interest in the topic of the lesson.
• “Unexpected business” . If there are problems with discipline in the class and it is necessary to create a working atmosphere, then this is an effective technique for teaching children. You can give a task to each student. For example, draw a tree as a giant and a dwarf see it. Such an unusual task will interest children and return them to activity in the lesson.
• Fantastic Supplement . This method of teaching children quickly involves them in the work process of the lesson, and also contributes to the development of creativity and non-standard thinking.

5 useful teaching techniques

The teacher adds a fantastic element to the real learning situation. For example, he transfers some historical figure, literary character, fictional animal to the topic being studied, or describes it through the eyes of an alien.

5 relatively new methods of teaching children

Associations

This method of teaching children belongs to active methods. Thanks to him, existing knowledge is systematized by comparing it with new information. “The run of associations” connects the subconscious and the sensual sphere of cognition. New material is well absorbed by students. Also, the use of this teaching technique in the classroom motivates children.

Association Run can be used at different stages of the session. For example, if the lesson is devoted to one problem, then it will help in setting it. It is also convenient to use the technique at the stage of consolidating new information. It works great in speech development lessons.

It is recommended to work with the “Running Associations” technique as follows: you need to divide the class into pairs. The theme of the lesson is announced. Pupils name a few words that they associate with this topic. This technique is applicable not only to the humanities. In mathematics lessons, for example, you can also use it when posing a problem.

So, in the lesson on the topic “Circle”, children voice associations that come to their mind in connection with this geometric figure. The teacher can demonstrate various round objects: a wheel, a ring, the sun, and even give a non-standard analogy – a round dance. Now it is important to deepen the students’ thoughts by asking what associations they have, for example, the movement of the wheel or whirling when they dance. Answers can be different: speed, freedom, circulation, etc.

Let’s apply this method in foreign language lessons. Students can associate new terms with familiar ones.

Collector

This is an effective technique for interactive teaching of children, that is, when students are expected to be actively involved in the learning process. In this technique, the preliminary preparation of the subjects of training is important. It can be used in any lesson, regardless of the subject. The main advantage of the reception is the ability to establish interdisciplinary connections and show the practical significance of new knowledge to students, their applied value. Steps to use the “Collector” technique:

• Collection collection . Preparation includes the selection by students of various subjects that are related to the topic of the lesson. For example, when preparing for a geography lesson on the topic “International Relations of Russia”, students can collect foreign labels. They need to be glued to the album, and on the contour map, mark the country from which this product was imported to Russia.
• Artwork for the collection album . All items must be pasted and each must be signed. For example, when preparing for a chemistry lesson on the topic “Oil”, students collect images or objects for an album, noting the following parameters: name, chemical formula, scope, what is the importance for a person, cons, harmful effects, etc.
• Practical work with the collection in lesson . Here, methods of generalization and repetition of educational material are suitable. The form of the lesson can be different, including non-standard. For example, an auction using collection items, a business game, etc. You can divide the class into groups and give the task to prepare a detailed presentation of the exhibits of the collection.

This technique is also good because the teacher forms visual material on a specific topic that can be used in classes in other classes.

Intellectual duel

This is a technique that demonstrates how well the students mastered the educational material. It also shows whether children are able to think logically, highlight patterns, differences and contradictions of new material with what has already been studied.

“Intellectual ring” can be held at any stage of the lesson. For example, at the beginning, in order to consolidate already known material and prepare for a logically following topic. It is suitable for lessons of generalization and systematization of knowledge.

The essence of this game method of teaching children is as follows: the student, as in the ring, must endure several questions. On average, he is asked 5 questions that need to be answered quickly. Take a few seconds to think. That is, it is a kind of blitz poll. Of course, the success of using the technique depends on the individual student. Someone will demonstrate excellent knowledge, while someone will demonstrate their absence and inability to concentrate. It is also a great training of the intellect.

Intellectual duel

Of course, the teacher carefully thinks through the questions. They should be formulated in such a way that there is one short answer. So you can quickly cross-section of knowledge for some terms, dates. Alternatively, you can ask to complete the sentence by inserting the missing word.

The joking wording of questions is also suitable for this technique. This will definitely interest the students, and will also allow you to check how deep the understanding of the topic is. This form of questions requires their comprehension, understanding of the subject of the conversation. This is not just memorized information.

Riddles, anagrams, homonyms, etc. are also suitable for such purposes. The technique is also applicable to the exact sciences, for example, mathematics, physics, chemistry. The teacher can give the task to complete the formula, check simple calculations, or name whose law it is.

Diagram, or Venn Rings

Teachers began to actively use the method in the technology of developing critical thinking. It is named after the English scientist, author of the book Symbolic Logic. This is a graphic technique that is used when you need to compare several concepts, phenomena, objects. Children develop analytical skills, the ability to identify common and differences. The learning process using this technique includes the following steps:

• At the lesson, several terms and phenomena are singled out that need to be analyzed and compared with each other. For example, in mathematics, one can compare geometric figures, in literature – the characters of a book, in a history lesson – politicians and their contribution, in social science – to compare the ideas of thinkers.
• Students draw Venn rings.
• At this stage, the material is comprehended and consolidated, diagrams are discussed. You can do this in groups or pairs.

Colored Fields

Colored Fields for children is suitable for interactive education. It promotes the development of self-organization skills, individual work with text and self-examination. Basically, this technique is used in the lessons of literature and the Russian language. However, it can also be used in classes in other subjects where written work is performed.

The main advantage of this technique is that it contributes to the creation of a favorable and trusting atmosphere in the classroom, as the student is not afraid of strict control by the teacher and learns to determine the degree of his preparedness and level of knowledge himself.

The essence of the reception is as follows: the student performs written work. It can be any format: essay, test, essay, laboratory, presentation, etc.

In the margins of the notebook, he makes notes for the teacher in different colors. For example, red signals that errors need to be checked and corrected. Green – mark errors, but the student will correct them on their own. Blue – indicate how many errors, but do not underline which ones. Black – the student’s recognition that there can be many mistakes and the topic requires additional study.

The number of colors used and their meaning may vary. So, when doing some creative work, the student can ask the teacher to check only the structure, spelling or stylistic errors.

It is important to agree in advance what this or that color means, and write the symbols on the board. Such clarity will help the student to quickly orient himself in self-control.

Rules for choosing methods and techniques for teaching children

Certain approaches have been formed in pedagogy to the choice of one or another method and practical methods for teaching children. It depends on the circumstances and conditions of the educational process. It is also important to what extent it is possible to implement certain techniques in a particular educational institution. Teachers in their activities rely on the experience of colleagues, their successful practice. Let us consider in more detail what determines the choice of teaching methods for children:0005 Rules for choosing methods and techniques for teaching children

So, the teacher relies on the circumstances listed above and makes the following decisions: chooses verbal, visual or pragmatic methods. In accordance with them, he determines methods for teaching children in the classroom: logical, organizational or technical.

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Best Practices for Teaching Children – Child Development

While many people find educating children rewarding and rewarding, for some parents it can sometimes be overwhelming. What is the best way to teach children? Do methods and techniques vary depending on the subject of the material being studied and the preferences of the child? And how to help him learn new knowledge?

There are several methods and techniques you can use to teach your children. Before making your choice, find out which one is best for your child. You will be surprised how quickly he will learn once you apply the methods that best suit his individual learning style.

There are seven basic learning styles:

• Visual (spatial, visual) style – people who are most suited to it learn best through drawings, images, mental images and spatial representation.
• Auditory (auditory, auditory) style – These people learn best through sounds and music.
• Verbal (verbal, linguistic) style – these people learn better with the help of words expressed orally or in writing.
• Kinesthetic (bodily, physical, sensory) style – these people learn best through their own experience and practice, relying on their sense of touch in the process of learning.
• Logical (mathematical) style – for such students, the most important thing is logic, argumentation and reasoning.
• Interpersonal (social) style – such students learn the material best when they are in a group, that is, in the process of group interaction.
• Intrapersonal (solitary, solitary) style – these people learn best in private with themselves, on their own.

​It is important to note that many children are suited to a blended learning style. As an example, think of yourself. How do you learn best: with just one or a few learning styles?

Try the teaching methods and techniques presented in this article that you feel best suit your child’s learning style.

Visual Learners

To help the visual learner grasp new concepts faster, teach them through pictures, images, charts, diagrams, and color-coded information. For example, if you are teaching a child to tie their shoes, give them step-by-step instructions, illustrating each step. Use shoelaces of different colors for more visibility. If you are teaching about a school subject such as rainforest ecosystems, have your child explore the topic using graphs and draw pictures of their findings. “Visual” students remember information better if it is classified according to colors. As you read with your child and teach them grammar, try assigning a specific color to each part of speech. Always have colored pens, pencils, markers, stickers and stickers with you.

Auditory learners

Children who are better at listening to information need a teaching method that includes the use of sounds. This type of student succeeds if you explain the main concepts of the lesson through a story or song. You can also use music to set the mood for the learning environment. It would be ideal if such children took their exams to the sounds of classical music … If you want them to experience the revival of studying a boring subject in their opinion (mathematics, grammar, history, whatever), turn on a rhythmic, cheerful music. To teach important lessons to young children, use storytelling and singing, such as learning songs for toddlers on a variety of topics.

“Verbal” learners

The verbal learning style focuses on the use of words in spoken and written form. For this type of student, the following teaching methods and techniques are effective: rewriting phrases and words, own notes during lectures, reading aloud, listening to audio recordings and discussion. You can teach such a child to spell, for example, by inviting him to write a word several times on paper or a board. Such children understand and learn the rules better if they are written on a poster so that they can constantly see, reread and refer to it. If your kids enjoy writing, help them come up with and write down a detective story they’ll be proud of.

“Kinesthetic” students

Students who tend to kinesthetic learning style (through tactile sensations) learn by “doing” it. Such children must build, create, portray and experience what they learn. If you are teaching them the history of ancient Rome, have them build models of ancient buildings and historical sites. If they are not very good at modeling architectural structures, let them represent the material being studied through sketches, improvisations and small plays. Outdoor activities, the use of technology and all kinds of games are also an effective method of teaching children who are prone to kinesthetic perception of information. For example, if your geometry class is Triangle Angles, take the lesson on the basketball court. Two students can demonstrate different angles between them and the basketball hoop. Experiments are also a good method of teaching kinesthetic learners.

“Logical, mathematical” students

Such students should know the complete answer to the difficult to understand question “why?”. The answer “because” or “it just happens” does not suit them. They achieve excellent results by following complex instructions, instructions, using modern technologies and games in the learning process. Children who are prone to a logical learning style often become engineers or mathematicians, since both of these professional fields are usually built on following logical rules. Also try to use problem-solving skills as part of learning new material. For example, have the children develop a hypothesis that they can test. Discuss positive or negative results and ask them why things happened the way they did. You may be surprised at how they formulate their answers.

“Interpersonal, social” students

These students benefit the most from interpersonal communication and learn best in a group. An appropriate learning style involves role play, group projects, volunteering and debate. Let the children engage with other children, encourage their discussions and cooperation. You may also find that these kids can be great pen pals.

“Intrapersonal, solitary” students

These children prefer individual learning and self-training.