When determining how to help students, it is best to understand their learning style and what method works for them. People differ in many ways, including the type of instruction that is assumed to be most suitable for them(Cruz & Cruz, 2024). The interconnection of the learning styles and cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical development of students is what determines the type of student they are. A student who is a kinesthetic learner who is well-developed socially would do well with a group, hands-on project. On the other hand, an auditory learner who is well-developed linguistically would likely do well on an oral book report. It is important to discover what works well for the individual student and adjust the lesson accordingly.
After analyzing the learning styles inventory, I can see where I can adjust my lessons and planning. An inventory of students' learning styles can build self-esteem by helping them discover their strengths; learn about areas in which they might need to make more effort; and appreciate the differences among themselves (Cruz & Cruz, 2024). If I adjust my curriculum to my student's strengths, I can have a more successful lesson. Once a child realizes what works best for them, they become more motivated and begin to see results in learning.
There were three learning styles present after administering the evaluation, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile. For an auditory learner, a good strategy is to teach through song (Fleming, 2020). Children naturally enjoy singing and dancing, so any time a concept can be taught with a song or rhyme, the students will be drawn to it and more willing to listen. A kinesthetic learner is more physical and learns through movement. A few strategies that would work with this learning style are group work, plays, and experiments. A tactile learner learns well by manipulating and forming objects. A good activity for tactile learners is to form letters or their spelling words with clay or playdough.
Finding out what a student’s interests are is valuable information. When a topic connects to what students like to do, engagement deepens as they willingly spend time thinking, dialoguing, and creating ideas in meaningful ways (McCarthy, 2019). For example, I like to do an All About Me paper at the beginning of the year. Then I can integrate some of the students' interests in morning writing or small groups. When a student feels like their teacher is taking an interest in them, they will be more likely to form a bond and trust. This could result in better class participation and grades.
It is important to address all of the learning styles when developing and implementing assessments for the students. By understanding these different learning styles, educators can better cater to the needs of their students and create a more inclusive and effective learning environment (TEACHERS & HOMESCHOOLING ACCESSORIES, 2023). One way I can address all of the learning styles is to implement visual aids, hands-on activities, and a discussion in one lesson. I can discuss how to work through a problem while showing it on the whiteboard. Then I can give the students manipulatives to use and walk them through how to use them to solve a problem. This would be helpful for the visual learners to see how to use the manipulatives, and the tactile and kinesthetic learners would get the hands-on aspect as well.
References
Cruz, U., & Cruz, U. (2024, July 11). 8 Best Auditory Learning Techniques: A Teachers’ Guide. SplashLearn Blog – Educational Resources for Parents, Teachers & Kids. https://www.splashlearn.com/blog/auditory-learning- techniques-to-help-teachers get action able results/#:~:text= Students%20can %20enhance%20auditory% 20learning% 20through% 20activities% 20that,Talking% 20through% 20problems% 20or% 20ideas% 20before% 20beginning%20projects.
Fleming, G. (2020, January 21). The auditory learning style. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/auditory-learning- style-p3 3212038#:~: text=Create% 20lesson% 20plans% 20that% 20include% 20a% 20social% 20element% 2C,listen% 20to%20approved%20music%20during%20silent%20study%20periods.
McCarthy, J. (2019, August 25). Learner Interest Matters: Strategies for Empowering Student Choice. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-learner-interest-matters-john-mccarthy
TEACHERS & HOMESCHOOLING ACCESSORIES. (2023, November 12). How Do I Adapt Lesson Plans To Accommodate Different Learning Styles And Abilities? - Inspiring Today's. TEACHERS & HOMESCHOOLING ACCESSORIES. https://practicaltipsforteachers.com/how-do-i-adapt-lesson-plans-to-accommodate-different- learning-styles-and-abilities/#:~: text=How%20 Do%20I% 20Adapt% 20Lesson% 20Plans% 20To% 20 Accommodate,Establishing%20a%20Supportive%20Classroom%20Environment%20. . .%20More%20items