Posts Tagged ‘Language Skills’

Nonverbal Learning Disability

December 11th, 2009

Nonverbal learning disability is a kind of brain disorder, similar to autism in some aspects. It is also known as the nonverbal learning disorder. To put it simply, it is the disability of a person to understand nonverbal communication. In the first few years of schooling, such children tend to show exceptional brilliance because their deficiency of understanding will not be visible. In general, verbal communication is considered as a yardstick for success. The worst part of this disease is that it is not usually diagnosed. In fact, people suffering from this disease have been found to be extra-active and wonderfully brilliant in their early years. The disease shows its head generally during the teenage. But even before that, such children tend to show some uncharacteristically odd things. Such characteristics can be observed only if the parents are vigilant and have a keen sense of observation.

Once they become a bit more old, the burden of studies and the burden of life in general become too much to bear for their nerves. They fall apart. Such children will be increasingly becoming uninterested in studies. Also, unbelievably naive forgetfulness tends to creep into their mental system. Suddenly they from being bright students slip to below average students. However hard they work, they may not be able to overcome their problems. Generally, it is characterized as attitude problems; but in reality it is nonverbal learning disability. People affected by this disease generally prefer to stay away from the society. » Read more: Nonverbal Learning Disability

Inspiring Learning – 3 Essential Strategies

December 9th, 2009

the best ways for children to learn is when their interest is captured. Notice how children are very motivated in winning when playing games like Monopoly and Chess, or how an entire class of rowdy students become quietly enraptured by a rare video screening session. Imagine if you could use Mathematical games in class to motivate all your students, including the weaker ones, into learning Maths of their own accord. Word-game sessions can similarly be organised to encourage the learning of the English Language, when students are allowed to pit their language skills against each other before the eyes of their respected teachers. Games such as Hangman can be organised for the entire class with a little preparation, and you can get free samples of Mathematics games which may be played with students by googling for Math Printables.

The next strategy you can take to make learning interesting is through the use of comical media or videos in the conduct of your lessons. It is true that good videos that are compatible with class instructions may be hard to come by, but you can just take a bit of effort to bookmark any fun videos you see the next time you surf YouTube, such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2YRkTSAG4.

By increasing the applicability of school subjects to students, learning can be much more fun for the less motivated students. A lesson in Science on nutrition may be started with an announcement that “students who wish to grow as tall as Lebron James or girls who want a good figure should study this topic intensively!” Children are full of dreams and fantasies and if you can direct them to specific books where they can explore their dreams further, it can motivate a fair bit of reading and self-learning.

Helping students set meaningful goals would give them a strong sense of direction and focus. This is needed most of the time as not all lessons may be 100% engaging to every single student of the class. Take time off and discuss personal goals with your students either through their journals or personally with them. These goals should be a positive mood booster to the kids just by them thinking about it. A hard-working student may ‘Aim for 80 marks and above in all major tests’. A less academically inclined student may ‘Aim to be a pilot when I grow up’, which a teacher must explain, involves getting rather good grades in school. Get your student to design a digital poster of his goal or dream on an A4 poster and have him put it up on the door of his room. Such ‘vision boards’ have proven to work miracles for adults, so can they for children.




By: Justin Lee

Inspiring Learning – 3 Essential Strategies

November 6th, 2009

Interest, Application and Goals. These three basic but essential strategies are important when it comes to teaching the next generation of students. Educators have to up their game in order to engage this group of students.

 

One of the best ways for children to learn is when their interest is captured. Notice how children are very motivated in winning when playing games like Monopoly and Chess, or how an entire class of rowdy students become quietly enraptured by a rare video screening session.

Imagine if you could use Mathematical games in class to motivate all your students, including the weaker ones, into learning Maths of their own accord. Word-game sessions can similarly be organised to encourage the learning of the English Language, when students are allowed to pit their language skills against each other before the eyes of their respected teachers. Games such as Hangman can be organised for the entire class with a little preparation, and you can get free samples of Mathematics games which may be played with students at www.shimes-education.com/extra_info_pages.php?pages_id=43

 

Good videos for class instructions may be hard to come by, but you may surf YouTube and bookmark interesting videos which you may use for the next science lesson such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2YRkTSAG4.

 

Making subjects applicable to the lives of students makes learning liveable for the less motivated students. A lesson in Science on nutrition may be started with an announcement that “students who wish to grow as tall as Lebron James or girls who want a good figure should study this topic intensively!” Children have the most diverse dreams you can imagine and by reinforcing the message that they can learn it from the books would motivate a fair bit of self-learning.

 

Helping students set meaningful goals would give them a strong sense of direction and focus. This is needed most of the time as not all lessons may be 100% engaging to every single student of the class. Take the time to set personal goals with each of your students. These goals should put a smile on their faces when they think about it. A hard-working student may ‘Aim for 80 marks and above in all major tests’. A less academically inclined student may ‘Aim to be a pilot when I grow up’, which a teacher must explain, involves getting rather good grades in school. Have your student design an A4 poster of his/her dream or goal and have them paste it on their bedroom wall. Such ‘vision boards’ have proven to work miracles for adults, so can they for children.




By: Justin Lee