Learning... Differently
We all learn differently. Some people like to have instructions spoken to them, while others would rather read them from a page. Still others need pictures or a video before they can grasp a concept or task. How many times have you looked up a 'How-To" on YouTube? Kids are the same. They have learning styles and preferences just like adults.
What about your body language and behavior while sitting in a meeting or listening to a lecture? Do you tap your foot, doodle on you paper, get up to use the restroom or stand in the back of the room, because you "just need to stretch"? As adults we all do things to regulate our bodies and children do too. Sometimes their self-regulation may look different. For example, they may be rocking back and forth in their seat, chewing a pencil, fiddling with something inside their desks, or getting up to sharpen a seemingly sharp pencil. We all need freedom to self-regulate or we're not going to be learning. As adults we need to have some understanding for kids and the way they learn. I think sometimes we expect more out of our kids than we do each other.
In Special Education we know that there all different types of learners. Some need more 'hands-on' or tactile methods. For those students, they may learn spelling patterns by using letter tiles instead of copying with pencil/paper. Some students need to see their day mapped out in words and/or pictures to relieve anxiety about the day's expectations. For those students, they could benefit from a visual schedule. What is good for kids in Special Education is good for ALL kids! If your child is struggling with a concept or task, all they may need is for the information to be presented to them differently. Talk with your student and their teacher to find out how your student can do their BEST learning. Sometimes we have to think differently for our students, who learn differently!