Yesterday was a big day in our family. Like so many families this time of year, we sent a little one to his first day of kindergarten. Along with first day photos and excitement came a bit of anxiety, some for our new student and even some for mom.
There are several different learning styles, and each has a direct impact on how your child learns, processes information, and their level of success in the classroom.
Visual students don’t usually test well and may even struggle with test anxiety. Right brain, visual-spatial individuals are conceptual, non-linear thinkers and they often miss details, struggle with memorization and prefer images over words. But there are always going to be tests at school and we need to help our visual kids conquer their test […]
Art is a critical component of education as well as a means of self-expression. Directed drawing, the process of step by step drawing instruction, is one component of art instruction and essential for building confidence and art skills. However, participation in directed drawing classes also helps develop observation skills, attention to detail, fine motor and organizational skills, as well as a strong visual vocabulary. These skills require time, patience and repetition to allow the child’s hands catch up to what the eyes can see.
This morning I was looking on line to see what kind of things are being done in elementary schools, to teach math visually and came across this video; Teaching Math Without Words: A Visual Approach to Learning Math Through Software.
In the video Dr. Matthew Peterson shares some great insights on why the current language heavy approach to teaching math is not working, especially for children that learn visually and conceptually. In answer to these challenges, their group, The Mind Research Institute has developed math-learning software to use in the classroom and is yielding impressive results. This video includes examples of their software – which I must admit – move way too fast for me to fully grasp. But when seeing the children working and discussing, in front of their computers, the programs seem to move at a pace that invites engagement and understanding.
Math is not usually a favorite subject for visual students. It doesn’t mean they’re not good at it. Your child may be struggling and less successful in the classroom because of the way math is being taught. Remember, our visual learners have their own way of seeing things.
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