LEARNING STYLE & STUDY HABITS Dr. McGravey

School Psychologist

MEMS

6th Grade Orientation

August 18, 2014

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEARNERS

•Learning styles vary from person to person

•Many students have more than one dominant

learning style

•Later in 6th grade, you’ll be learning about

Multiple Intelligences, but today we’ll be talking

about three specific learning styles…

WHAT TYPE OF LEARNER ARE YOU??

There are various learning inventories available online. Today we are going to take a learning inventory to find out whether we learn best by seeing (visual), hearing (auditory), or doing (kinesthetic or tactile)

http://www.odessa.edu/dept/govt/dille/brian/courses/1100orientation/learningstyleinventory_survey.pdf

https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/ace/downloads/lsi.pdf

TIPS FOR AUDITORY LEARNERS

Ask questions

All auditory learners should aim to ask questions during a lesson.

Record class lectures (with teacher permission)

Also, Auditory learners could benefit from taping their notes once they’ve written them. This will force them to say out loud what they’ve just learnt in a way that makes sense to them – cementing it into their head. They can also use the spoken notes to revise later.

Watch videos (Kahn Academy is great!)

Use word association/Mnemonic devices

Participate in discussions

Talk about what you learned with a trusted adult or find a friend who is also an auditory learner and study with him/her before a test – quiz each other!

Avoid auditory distractions

While everyone is different, and some people study well with music, auditory learners are incredibly susceptible to distraction. Music should be quiet and instrumental.

TIPS FOR VISUAL LEARNERS

Copy down all the diagrams you can

If a teacher draws a diagram on the whiteboard – copy it down. Ask them to label it properly. It wouldn’t even be too much to ask a teacher to draw their own version of a diagram for you. The more diagrams you can get your hands on – the better.

Watch videos

Videos are great resources for Visual Learners. Which is why it’s fantastic that there are now so many freely available educational videos online. Khan Academy website is a great place for this. The site currently has over 1800 videos, predominantly science and math focused.

Use highlighters

Visual Learners love using highlighters. They make things bright and colorful while making the important bits stand out. Consistently highlighting certain types of facts in predefined colors will help Visual Learners sort out where facts sit in their heads.

Use flash cards

They are particularly effective if used with diagrams or charts. E.g. What is this part of a cell called, what does it do? What does a graph that looks like this mean? Who is this, when was she born and what did she do?

TIPS FOR KINESTHETIC LEARNERS Use flash cards

Flash cards make kinesthetic learners turn simple recall into a game. This makes them perfect for kinesthetic learners. Simply write a question or topic suggestion on one side of a card, and the answer or a list of details they should remember on the other side.

Study in short blocks

Kinesthetic learners tend to have a relatively short attention span when they’re studying. But this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be doing just as much study as everyone else. They should break their study up into shorter periods, but also take shorter breaks.

Use plenty of examples when writing study notes

Many main points and concepts can be demonstrated with examples. Kinesthetic learners tend to make better associations with the examples than just the plain facts.

Study with other people

Kinesthetic learners enjoy discussion. Talking about what they’ve learnt is often a great way to consolidate what they’ve learnt.

Do something while you study

Tap a pencil, squeeze a stress ball, or do something to occupy the want to do something with their hands without becoming a distraction.

A note about music while studying

Kinesthetic learners tend to be less distracted by music while studying than other people, although this is a personal debate.

GENERAL HOMEWORK TIPS FOR INCOMING 6TH GRADERS

•Having a routine can help you be more successful at school. Try to do your homework at the same time, in the same place as often as possible.

•Most students benefit from a short break after school before beginning homework, but it’s not good to wait too long. Take a 15-30 minute break to have a snack, relax, or play outside. Then make a plan and get your homework out of the way.

•If distraction is an issue, complete your homework in a visible place away from cell phones, computers, etc.

•Turn off the internet unless you need it for schoolwork!

PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM PROJECTS

•Middle School involves more long-term projects than Elementary School. In order to be successful, you need to make a plan!

•Backwards planning can be very helpful. This involves utilizing a calendar (online or on paper) and starting with your “end” before figuring out what steps you need to take to get there. This method can be used for many things including:

• Planning a party

• Studying for a big test

• Completing long-term assignments

• Planning a vacation

SAMPLE BACKWARDS PLANNING (STUDY PLAN)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesda

y

Thursday Friday Saturday

Study for

Science

(30

minutes)

Kara’s

Birthday

Party

Karate –

5pm (Study

for Science

in car – 15

minutes)

Study for

Science (20

minutes)

Study for

Science (30

minutes)

Science

Test

Today!!!

SAMPLE BACKWARDS PLANNING (LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENT)

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Shop for Dad’s

gift

Find three sources

for speech project

Take notes for

speech project

Write first

draft of speech

First draft of

speech due

(social studies!)

Dad’s Birthday! Horseback

Riding @

Noon

Study for

Math Test (15

minutes)

Study for Math

Test (45 minutes)

Edit Speech using

teacher notes

Practice

speech in front

of mirror

Practice speech

in front of mom

Practice

Speech in front

of whole

family

Speech

Project Due

in Social

Studies!!!

Study for Math

Test (30 minutes) Math Test

Today

RESOURCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES

http://www.thestudygurus.com/

http://www.coedu.usf.edu/zalaquett/Help_Screens/study_skillsMHS.htm

http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz