In Spanish class today, I realized just how many distracting things I do. In just the three and a half hours this afternoon, I squirmed in my seat, tapped my feet, chewed on a straw, ran downstairs to refill my coffee cup, scooted my chair back and forth, got up to stretch my legs, and made sounds with my pencil. Not once was any of my movement today preceded with a request by the teacher. I finally noticed that I was being distracting to my classmates, so I tried to stop what I was doing. But that led to me thinking about how I address various learning styles within my own teaching. I am a very kinesthetic learner. Through the process of learning from many great teachers, I have further developed my ability to learn from auditory and visual stimulus. However, I don't internalize information until I have the chance to move. Oftentimes sitting in class I will tap my feet and move around in my chair. From this experience in Spanish class, I better understand students that do this in classes I have taught. The thing that stands out from my internship this semester was about three students that would always be moving around in their chair; sitting backwards, rocking the chair back on two feet, and sitting with their feet in the chair. I remember being that student as a child and it was always difficult when teachers told me to sit still or sit normally. I understand why those students need to move around because of my own experience. As I become a student teacher, and later a full-time teacher, it is important for me to keep in mind various learning styles. In my opinion, kinesthetic learners are the most difficult to accommodate, mainly because most teachers have difficulty giving up enough control for students to get out of their seats. They are afraid the class will become too chaotic when students are active and moving. However, there are many benefits to including movement within a lesson. First, those students that used to be distracting others by moving around or making noise are no longer being distracting. Second, it gives all students an opportunity to be active and reinforces a healthy lifestyle. Last, it helps students, especially those kinesthetic learners, internalize and remember the information. In my classroom, movement will be included in many ways, and in varying amounts. First, I will use many cooperative learning strategies. In doing this, students will usually be moving around the room to work on their project. Next, I plan to allow student choice in presenting their learning as much as possible. One option will be a skit, which appeals to kinesthetic learners as well as addressing the multiple intelligence of drama. Last, I will provide many community building activities for my students. Even if the lesson itself does not contain opportunities for much movement, most of the community builders involve active participation with classmates. In this way, I can provide opportunities for students to "shake out" their need to move. Personally, I believe that every student has varying abilities to learn in each way. Each person has the potential to learn through auditory, visual, and kinesthetic modes. In most students, one of these three stands out more than the other two, and that is how the student learns BEST. But with the right teacher, I believe students can strengthen their ability to learn in the other two modes. I hope to be the teacher that is able to cultivate my students' ability to learn as much as possible.
1 Comment
5/1/2015 11:56:56 pm
Very nice post! The Snow Bird Program offered at this <a href="http://www.chac-mool.com/">Spanish Language School</a> has been designed especially for those with a passion for language and who understand that through language one can explore the culture of a place by efficiently communicating across with the locals and reading their books and thus learn effectively.
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AuthorI am an MSU graduate and 4th grade teacher in Carthage, MO. This is just a collection of things I've learned that I thought were important enough to share. Archives
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