Friday, May 24, 2013

Personal Methods of Learning


Personal Methods of Learning

I know mine.
Do you know yours?
But more importantly, do you know your child’s Personal Method of Learning?

I’m Virginia Koenig, co-author of How to Learn – How to Teach, Overcoming the Seven Barriers to Learning.

We’re all gifted with the ability to learn, however we each have our own Personal Method of Learning – the way we learn best.

Some children learn best by hearing what they need to learn.  They can listen to a lecture and absorb everything.

Some children learn best by seeing what they need to learn.  They can read a book, watch a film or demonstration and absorb everything.

Some children learn best by doing what they need to learn.  They enjoy taking things apart, running experiments, building things.  They are usually 3-D learners who are able to envision a 3-D model of what they’re learning.

When you know your child’s Personal Method of Learning you:
  1. Are better able to help them with homework,
  2. Can speak with their teacher so their teacher is better able to help them learn.

To learn more about Personal Methods of Learning go to howtolearneasily.com.


I rescue failing students by remedying the Barriers to Learning


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Teacher's Unions

The Plight of Teachers' Unions
Arthur Levine
Education Week    May 7, 2013

I felt compelled to share this post by Arthur Levine in Education Week.

Mr. Levine really hit the nail on the head when he stated, " Industrial societies focus on common processes, epitomized by the assembly line.  information economies focus on common outcomes. Process is variable. With regard to schools, the emphasis is on learning;"

"the shift to an information economy and a focus on learning is inevitable. Teachers' unions can oppose it or lead the transition."

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/08/30levine_ep.h32.html?tkn=WYXF9QgfOk55Hq0Dw4QyWLoUrPC64wJJB3S1&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS1

I rescue failing students by overcoming the Barriers to Learning
Virginia





Monday, May 6, 2013

The Monster At the End of Common Core


The 'Monster' at the End of the Common Core
Education Week,  May 1, 2013
Laura Thomas

Since the Common Core State Standards emerged, people I respect have come out in opposition in a way that reminds me of a book from my childhood: The Monster at the End of This Book. In this classic, Sesame Street’s Grover begs us not to turn the pages, lest we unleash the monster at the end. He becomes increasingly agitated, building walls and threatening us as we get closer to the end. His panic sounds a lot like what I hear from some of my colleagues in the educational community.

I think that, if we're as smart and committed as we say we are, we can use the common core as a stepping stone to better outcomes for all of our kids.  And by "outcomes" I don't mean just "test scores." I mean, you know, Learning. Engagement. Success. . . . but also the skills and dispositions that kids need to succeed in life, like communication, collaboration, curiosity, organization, and problem solving.

What we should be celebrating as an opportunity, we're dreading. We've been buried under "teach to the test" and doing the heavy lifting in our classrooms for so many years that we’ve forgotten a basic premise of education: The learner does the learning.

 

I applaud Ms. Thomas’ view on this situation.  Common Core Standards are an opportunity that allows the student to direct their own learning.  What better way to interest and engage our students, and engage our teachers.

I rescue failing students by remedying the Barriers to Learning
www.howtolearneasily.com