So you have this great kid. He’s dynamic, smart, fun, curious, creative, and you love the way his mind works! Then he goes to school and they’re not seeing the same things you are. You hear he’s not paying attention. Not applying himself. Not keeping up. Not behaving. Then you hear – maybe it’s ADD ?
Do you have a bright, capable, intelligent, creative child that struggles in school? Your child may be a visual learner and school is not teaching or measuring the things they’re good at.
Right brain, visual-spatial individuals are conceptual, non-linear thinkers and they often miss details, struggle with memorization and prefer images over words. Visual students don’t usually test well. Some may even struggle with test anxiety. But there are always going to be tests at school and we need to help our visual kids conquer their fears and improve test scores.
Here are 10 studying activities to help your visual elementary kids study:
Make learning visual – When classroom material is presented visually, your visual student is already on their way to more successful studying. These learners remember images – not words.
Write notes – The physical act of writing actually helps visual kids remember. Write very simple notes over and over again to help remember.
Add Images – Along with writing words, add simple images to help trigger memory. This is great for vocabulary practice. Again, visual kids remember pictures – not words.
Use color – Add color whenever you can. Take notes in color. Write key words in color. Write on colored notecards. Use a highlighter to help ‘see’ key information.
Make vocabulary colorful –To practice vocabulary words, write each one on flashcards. Add an image. Use colored markers, or colored notecards. Take the learning even further by using a different color for each syllable.
Art has long been perceived as a fun activity, with little academic impact or value in an educational system focused on literacy and test scores. Because of this misconception, art programs across the country are being eliminated in staggering numbers. While the cuts may help the bottom line, our students are paying the price. Research has proven time and time again, that art is essential to academic success, and many of our children can’t learn without it.
Under normal circumstances, summer brain drain can amount to a significant learning loss, as much as 2 1/2 months per student, with the biggest losses in math and reading. Sign up for this FREE eBook full of great ideas to keep the learning happening all summer and get tools and tips throughout the year.