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Age:  All

Content Area: All

Use:  To know the best learning styles of your students to give the the best learning environment possible

Focus: Learning types:
Visual ,Kinesthetic, Auditory

Every student learns in a different way. We need to know what type of students we have to help them succeed in our class.

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Are you one of those people who closes your eyes to envision the exact location of where you left your car keys? Do you bring up mental imagery when you're trying to remember what you did last Tuesday afternoon? Do you remember the cover of every book you've ever read? Do you have a photographic or near-photographic memory? Perhaps you are one of those people with the visual learning style.

What is Visual Learning Style?

Visual Learning is one of the three different learning styles popularized by Neil D. Fleming in his VAK model of learning. The visual learning style means that people need to see information to learn it, and this "seeing" takes many forms from spatial awareness, photographic memory, color/tone, brightness/contrast, and other visual information. Naturally, a classroom is a very good place for a visual learner to learn. Teachers use overheads, the chalkboard, pictures, graphs, maps, and many other visual items to entice a visual learner into knowledge.

Strengths of Visual Learners

Visual learners typically do well in a modern classroom setting. After all, there are just so many visuals in classrooms - whiteboards, handouts, photos, and so on. These students have many strengths that can boost their performances in school. Here are just a few of the strengths of this learning type:

Instinctively follows directions

Easily visualizes objects

Has a great sense of balance and alignment

Is an excellent organizer

Has a strong sense of color, and is very color-oriented

Can see the passage from a page in a book in his or her mind

Notices minute similarities and differences between objects and people easily

Can envision imagery easily

Visual Learning Strategies for Students

If you are a visual learner, you may find these things helpful when sitting in class or studying for a test. Visual learners need things in front of them to help solidify them in their brains, so don't try to go it alone when listening to lectures or studying for your next midterm. Be sure to integrate these tips into your study routine:

Color-code your notes, vocabulary words, and textbook

Be sure to read the diagrams, maps, and other visuals that go along with text to help you remember it

Make to-do lists in an agenda

Study in solitude. You need to see things to remember them and often, any noise will distract you.

Take notes during lectures to capitalize on your learning style

Sit near the front so you're better able to see everything

Use outlines and concept maps to organize your notes

Visual Learning Strategies for Teachers

Students with the visual learning style make up about 65 percent of your class. These students are the ones traditional classrooms are designed to teach. They will pay attention to your overhead slides, whiteboard, Smartboard, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, graphs, and charts. They will usually take good notes and will appear to be paying attention during class. If you use a lot of verbal directions without visual cues, visual learners may get confused, as they prefer to have something in writing to refer to.

Try these strategies for reaching those students with the visual learning type:

Supplement verbal lectures with a handout, diagram, or other visuals

Incorporate color into your presentations, the classroom, and handouts

Give written instructions and expectations

Vary your reading in class with solitary reading time so visual learners will take in the information better.

Vary your instructional methods (lectures, group work, solitary work, pairs, circles) and assignments so every learner is challenged

Show your students how to complete a task instead of just telling your students how to complete a task.

Show students how to make great vocabulary flashcards

Use video and still images to enhance your presentations

Provide written feedback on assignments

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Discover These Visual Learning Traits and Tricks for Studying

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What is the visual learning style? Read here for the scoop along with study tricks and teaching strategies for educators.

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Auditory

If you are an auditory learner, you learn by hearing and listening. You understand and remember things you have heard. You store information by the way it sounds, and you have an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones. You often learn by reading out loud because you have to hear it or speak it in order to know it.

As an auditory learner, you probably hum or talk to yourself or others if you become bored. People may think you are not paying attention, even though you may be hearing and understanding everything being said.

Here are some things that auditory learners like you can do to learn better.

Sit where you can hear.

Have your hearing checked on a regular basis.

Use flashcards to learn new words; read them out loud.

Read stories, assignments, or directions out loud.

Record yourself spelling words and then listen to the recording.

Have test questions read to you out loud.

Study new material by reading it out loud.

Remember that you need to hear things, not just see things, in order to learn well.

Visual

If you are a visual learner, you learn by reading or seeing pictures. You understand and remember things by sight. You can picture what you are learning in your head, and you learn best by using methods that are primarily visual. You like to see what you are learning.

As a visual learner, you are usually neat and clean. You often close your eyes to visualize or remember something, and you will find something to watch if you become bored. You may have difficulty with spoken directions and may be easily distracted by sounds. You are attracted to color and to spoken language (like stories) that is rich in imagery.

Here are some things that visual learners like you can do to learn better:

Sit near the front of the classroom. (It won't mean you're the teacher's pet!)

Have your eyesight checked on a regular basis.

Use flashcards to learn new words.

Try to visualize things that you hear or things that are read to you.

Write down key words, ideas, or instructions.

Draw pictures to help explain new concepts and then explain the pictures.

Color code things.

Avoid distractions during study times.

Remember that you need to see things, not just hear things, to learn well.

Tactile

If you are a tactile learner, you learn by touching and doing. You understand and remember things through physical movement. You are a "hands-on" learner who prefers to touch, move, build, or draw what you learn, and you tend to learn better when some type of physical activity is involved. You need to be active and take frequent breaks, you often speak with your hands and with gestures, and you may have difficulty sitting still.

As a tactile learner, you like to take things apart and put things together, and you tend to find reasons to tinker or move around when you become bored. You may be very well coordinated and have good athletic ability. You can easily remember things that were done but may have difficulty remembering what you saw or heard in the process. You often communicate by touching, and you appreciate physically expressed forms of encouragement, such as a pat on the back.

Here are some things that tactile learners like you can do to learn better:

Participate in activities that involve touching, building, moving, or drawing.

Do lots of hands-on activities like completing art projects, taking walks, or acting out stories.

It's OK to chew gum, walk around, or rock in a chair while reading or studying.

Use flashcards and arrange them in groups to show relationships between ideas.

Trace words with your finger to learn spelling (finger spelling).

Take frequent breaks during reading or studying periods (frequent, but not long).

It's OK to tap a pencil, shake your foot, or hold on to something while learning.

Use a computer to reinforce learning through the sense of touch.

Remember that you learn best by doing, not just by reading, seeing, or hearing.

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What's Your Learning Style? The Learning Styles

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Auditory If you are an auditory learner, you learn by hearing and listening. You understand and remember things you have heard. You store information by the way it sounds, and you have an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones.

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Definition: A kinesthetic-tactile learning style requires that you manipulate or touch material to learn. Kinesthetic-tactile techniques are used in combination with visual and/or auditory study techniques, producing multi-sensory learning.

Kinesthetic-Tactile Style

Like to make things with your hands

Remember best when you make things for your studies

Making something for a subject helps you understand better

Prefer making charts or posters for group projects to gathering the information

Remember spelling words better if you write them several times

Study Strategies

Use all the manipulative study strategies you can think of, for example:

Write

Make visuals (concept maps, time lines, charts, graphs

Make models

Use your fingers (e.g. for counting off items you are reviewing)

Prepare/use index cards

Use the movement of your body to increase attention to your study, for example:

Chew gum

Pace

Tap your foot or pencil

Study in a rocking chair

Look for participation activities with other students to enhance your learning

Caution

If you move your body while studying and reviewing, you will find you also need to move your body during a test to aid recall. Keep this in mind when choosing the type of movement to use.

Confounding Factor

Attention Deficit Disorder

What if you are disorganized, distractible and have a short attention span? You also notice you are a poor planner and get "bored" easily. You may not be a kinesthetic learner so much as a person who needs motion to concentrate. Consider whether you might have ADD or ADHD. If so, there will be other things you can do to improve your attention. Make an appointment to discuss this with Academic Support and Accessibility Services
Adapted from: Laskey, Marcia L. and Paula W. Gibson, College Study Strategies. Allyn and Bacon, Boston, 1997.

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Kinesthetic Learning Style | Houghton University

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A kinesthetic-tactile learning style requires that you manipulate or touch material to learn. Learn more with the Center for Student Success.

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Kinesthetic Learners Study Tips THAT WORK!

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Auditory Learners | Note Taking & Study Methods

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Do you prefer lectures over long reading assignments? Are you great at following verbal directions? Do you benefit from in-class discussions and receive great marks for class participation? If so, you may be an auditory learner.

Auditory learning is one of the three learning styles established by the VAK model of learning. In essence, auditory learners retain information best when it is presented through sound and speech.

Auditory learners generally remember what their teacher says and readily participate in class. They are good listeners and often very social, which means they can sometimes get distracted from the lesson by everything else going on in the classroom. Auditory learning methods range from studying with voice recordings to memorizing vocabulary words by inventing short songs.

Strengths of Auditory Learners

From kindergarten to calculus class, auditory learners will be some of the most engaged and responsive members of any classroom. Here are some of the strengths that will help them achieve success in the classroom:

Good at explaining ideas out loud

Knack for understanding changes in tone of voice

Skilled at oral reports and class presentations

Unafraid to speak up in class

Follows verbal directions well

Effective member of study groups

Gifted storyteller

Able to work through complex problems by talking out loud

Auditory Learning Strategies

Those with an auditory learning style like to speak and hear others speak in order to learn, but they may have trouble reading silently or staying engaged in a completely quiet classroom. If you are an auditory learner, try these strategies to improve your learning experience.

Find a study buddy. Team up with a study group or a reliable study partner and quiz each other on the content. Verbally reinforcing the information will help you retain it, especially if you have to memorize lots of details.

Record class lectures. Ask your instructor's permission to create audio recordings of class lectures. During class, focus your brain power on listening closely to the lecture. You'll process the information much better this way than if you try to jot down every word the teacher says. Later, you can listen back to the recording and take notes on the most important information.

Sit near the front of the room. Find a spot in the front row so that you can hear every word of the lecture.

Listen to classical music. Listen to lyric-free music while you study. (Music with lyrics may be too distracting.)

Participate in class discussions as much as possible. Talking about your ideas and voicing your questions will increase your understanding of the material. Encourage other students when they speak so that others feel just as comfortable as you do speaking in front of a group.

Record yourself reading key terms and their definitions out loud. Then, listen to the recording while you walk to class, exercise, or get ready for bed.

Repeat facts with your eyes closed. This technique will help you focus your attention on the auditory process, rather than any other visual stimuli that might be in front of you.

Read assignments out loud. If you're given a homework assignment that involves reading a lengthy chapter, don't feel like you're trapped into a silent reading session. Instead, curl up in your room or another study space and read aloud to yourself. (You can even make it interesting by using goofy voices.)

Auditory Learning Tips for Teachers

Auditory learners need to listen, speak, and interact in order to learn. They are often social butterflies. Help the auditory learners in your class put their gift of gab to good use with these teaching strategies.

Call on auditory learners to answer questions.

Lead class discussions and reward class participation.

During lectures, ask auditory learners to repeat ideas in their own words.

Record your lectures so that auditory learners can listen to them more than once.

Allow any struggling auditory learner to take an oral exam instead of a written one.

Create lesson plans that include a social element, such as paired readings, group work, experiments, projects, and performances.

Modulate your vocal tone, inflection, and body language during lectures.

Allow students with an auditory learning style to listen to approved music during silent study periods.

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Understanding the Auditory Learning Style

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Auditory learners process information best by hearing. If you are an auditory learner, try these study strategies and techniques.

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Age:  All

Content Area: All

Use:  To know the best learning styles of your students to give the the best learning environment possible

Focus: Learning types:
Visual ,Kinesthetic, Auditory

Asking questions about learning and studying styles can help you pinpoint the kinds of content that will meet your class’s needs.

While running learning stations or a large-group activity, pull each student aside for a few minutes. Ask about:

Their favorite types of lessons

Their favorite in-class activities

Which projects they’re most proud of

Which kinds of exercises help them remember key lesson points

Track your results to identify themes and students with uncommon preferences, helping you determine which methods of instruction suit their abilities.

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Age:  6th- 12th grade

Content Area: All

Use: To help students to acquire knowledge while working in groups and learn how to acquire

knowledge in an appropriate way

Focus: Collaboration, creativity, communication

My own team learning practice: I like to divide the class into groups of 4 or 5.  I give them a topic that we have covered and ask that they reinforce our learning by creating a song, a rap, a skit, or a poem that is appropriate for a classroom to present to the class.  I always use the same categories. Give them 20 minutes and remind them that everyone must have a part. Usually, they start by thinking that I’m crazy and that I have not given them enough time.  With my small encouragements as I walk around the class, they do get started.

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Module developed by Scott Simkins, Department of Economics, North Carolina A&T State University, with assistance from , Glendale Community College, and Phil Ruder, Pacific University

What is Team-Based Learning (TBL)?

Team-based learning (TBL) improves student learning through a structured, evidence-based, whole-course framework designed around a

five-stage "readiness assurance" process (RAP), and

a series of classroom-based "application exercises" (AES) that require teams of students to solve, discuss, and report out solutions to relevant, significant problems.

Learn more about Team-Based Learning...

Why use Team-Based Learning?

Teachers in a variety of disciplines adopt the TBL approach to increase student learning and engagement, especially for students from underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, and first-generation college students.

TBL provides strong incentives for students to

prepare prior to class,

collaboratively apply economic concepts to analyze important economic issues during class using hands-on activities, and

work effectively in teams.

Learn more about the benefits of Team-Based Learning for students and instructors...

How to use Team-Based Learning

TBL requires teams to apply disciplinary concepts to make decisions about significant economic problems. Each TBL module contains two components:

the Readiness Assurance Process (RAP), which ensures that students have a basic understanding of key economic concepts for that module, and

Application Activities (AEs), which require student teams to apply those concepts in new and meaningful ways. TBL is a student-centered teaching practice, with a minimum of lecturing.

Learn more about getting started with Team-Based Learning in your own class...

Examples

The Application Exercises page includes a collection of ready-to-use TBL Application Exercises, including teaching notes on how to best use the exercise in your own class. Use them as-is or adapt as needed for your own course.
Learn more about TBL Application Exercises you can adapt for your class...

References and Resources

The TBL References and Resources page includes a large collection of valuable TBL-related information, including web- and print-based resources illustrating TBL's development, use and effectiveness across disciplines.

Learn more about TBL, its development, and effectiveness across disciplines...

National Science Foundation (NSF) Support for Team-Based Learning

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported the development and diffusion of Team-Based Learning in economics through the following grant: (DUE 1712295).

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Module developed by Scott Simkins , Department of Economics, North Carolina A&T State University, with assistance from , Glendale Community College, and Phil Ruder , Pacific University Team-based learning (TBL) improves student learning through a structured, evidence-based, whole-course framework designed around a five-stage "readiness assurance" process (RAP), and a series of classroom-based "application exercises" (AES) that require teams of students to solve, discuss, and report out solutions to relevant, significant problems. Learn more about Team-Based Learning...

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43 Awesome Team-Building Games and Activities for Kids

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Students will have fun while learning how to cooperate and communicate.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: Teaching with a choice is a great strategy, with this strategy teachers have to learn to be open minded and to not be so teacher centered.

Focus: collaboration, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and student choice.

I loved listening to Joe Ruhl on his video. I think this will really help teachers by letting the students learn their own way, and making it a more differentiated instructed classroom. By doing this, it is helping the students to become more successful with their type of learning.

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Teaching Methods for Inspiring the Students of the Future | Joe Ruhl | TEDxLafayette

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In addition to my role as a high school teacher of Biology, Genetics, and Science Research Projects (with 41 years of experience), I love encouraging audiences by presenting nspirational and motivational keynote addresses to audiences of K - 12 teachers (for a taste, see my TEDx talk at Cs in the classroom: Choice , Collaboration , Communication , Critical Thinking , Creativity , and last but not least - Caring . 41 years of teaching has taught me a simple truth - that the most powerful motivator in the classroom is a perception on the part of the students that their teacher genuinely cares about them as individuals. So the most important of those six Cs is Caring . Makes sense, because "the greatest of these is love ( TEDx Talk). Teachers and administrators have found my keynote presentations and workshops to be "passionate, inspiring and practical!" I am available as a speaker to audiences of educators who are curious about how to motivate and inspire students by incorporating six agápē

Joe Ruhl received his B.S and M.S. degrees from Purdue University. Joe and his wife Gail have been blessed with two children and four grandchildren.

The National Association of Biology Teachers named Joe the Outstanding Biology Teacher of Indiana in 1987. In 1989 he was honored at the White House as Indiana's recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching. In 1996 he received the Purdue University College of Science Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2012 he was honored with the Shell National Science Teaching Award, presented to one science teacher in the U.S., and in 2017 he was one of five U.S. teachers inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame (another trip to the White House!) Joe is in his 42 nd year of teaching high school science, and he is grateful and honored to spend time with colleagues who are engaged in the most important profession on the planet!
"I've learned that true happiness and fulfillment in life lie not in the accumulation of 'stuff,' but rather, in the cultivation of human relationships.Teaching - the most important profession in the world - provides a wonderful opportunity to live out that philosophy.But the most important profession in the world is also the most physically and emotionally demanding.So how do we educators who live lives 'poured out' for our students, take care of ourselves?As I approach my 42nd year of teaching, I've learned that when kids are motivated and inspired, then I become motivated and inspired!When I become motivated and inspired then they become evenmore motivated and inspired!(In the world of biology we call this a positive feedback loop.)So how do we make this happen in our classrooms?Join me as we REFLECT, RECHARGE, CELEBRATE, and EXPLORE some time-tested techniques that work!"
Joe Ruhl is the dynamic and engaging speaker you are looking for to speak to the importance of relationships at all levels of education. His message resonated with all of our staff, and inspired them to re-think the importance of relationships with our students, and with each other.

Benton-Carroll-Salem Local School District

"As I began to listen, it became apparent that Joe had discovered the formula for effective instruction that all administrators and teachers dream to have. After 40 plus years in education with no signs of slowing, Joe has found the secret and is eager to share it with others."

Director of Innovation

North Point Educational Service Center

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Joe Ruhl - Motivational Speaker for Teachers (with emphasis on addressing social/emotional educational needs of students) and Biology Education Consultant

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In addition to my role as a high school teacher of Biology, Genetics, and Science Research Projects (with 41 years of experience), I love encouraging audiences by presenting nspirational and motivational keynote addresses to audiences of K - 12 teachers (for a taste, see my TEDx talk at Cs in the classroom: Choice , Collaboration , Communication , Critical Thinking , Creativity , and last but not least - Caring .

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Teaching Methods for Inspiring the Students of the Future  Joe Ruhl  TEDxLafayette - Greek Subs

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Age:  All

Content Area: All

Use: To help the students learn the material in different techniques

Focus: Collaboration, creativity, communication

Divided sections of your classroom through which groups of students rotate. You can facilitate this with a flexible seating plan.
Each station should use a unique method of teaching a skill or concept related to your lesson.

For example, students can rotate between stations that involve:

Watching a video

Creating artwork

Reading an article

Completing puzzles

Listening to you teach

To help students process the content after they’ve been through the stations, you can hold a class discussion or assign questions to answer.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: To help all the different types of learners to focus while studying

Focus: All Perceptual Styles

Free study time will generally benefit students who prefer to learn individually, but can be slightly altered to also help their classmates process your lessons.

This can be done by dividing your class into clearly-sectioned solo and team activities.

Consider the following free study exercises to also meet the preferences of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners:

Provide audiobooks, which play material relevant to your lessons

Create a station for challenging group games that teach skills involved in the curriculum

Maintain a designated quiet space for students to take notes and complete work

Allow students to work in groups while taking notes and completing work, away from the quiet space

By running these sorts of activities, free study time will begin to benefit diverse learners — not just students who easily process information through quiet, individual work.

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Content Area: All

Use: To give the the best learning environment possible with the same type of learners.

Focus: All Perceptual Styles

Heterogenous grouping is a common practice, but grouping students based on similar learning style can encourage collaboration through common work and thinking practices.

This is not to be confused with grouping students based on similar level of ability or understanding.

In some cases, doing so conflicts with the "Teach Up" principle , which is discussed below.

Rather, this tactic allows like-minded students to support each other’s learning while giving you to time to spend with each group. You can then offer the optimal kind of instruction to suit each group’s common needs and preferences.

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Content Area: All

Use: structured options can help students demonstrate their understanding of content as effectively as possible, giving you more insight into their abilities.

Focus: All Perceptual Styles

Instead of focusing on written products, consider evaluating reading comprehension through questions and activities that test different aptitudes.

Although written answers may still appeal to many students, others may thrive and best challenge themselves during artistic or kinesthetic tasks.

For example, allow students to choose between some of the following activities before, during and after an important reading:

Participating in more literature circles

Delivering a presentation

Writing a traditional report

Creating visual art to illustrate key events

Creating and performing a monologue as a main character or figure

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: Allowing the students to be open minded and get creative. This will show off their learning style

Focus: Cooperative Learning, Creativity, critical thinking, problem solving

Similar to evaluating reading comprehension, give students a list of projects to find one that lets them effectively demonstrate their knowledge.

Include a clear rubric for each type of project, which clearly defines expectations. Doing so will keep it challenging and help students meet specific criteria.

By both enticing and challenging students, this approach encourages them to:

Work and learn at their own paces

Engage actively with content they must understand

Demonstrate their knowledge as effectively as possible

As well as benefiting students, this differentiated instruction strategy will clearly showcase distinct work and learning styles.

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Age: 6th-12th

Content Area: All

Use: A journal can be a tool for students to reflect on the lessons you’ve taught and activities you’ve run, helping them process new information.

Focus: Summarizing and Note Taking

When possible at the end of class, give students a chance to make a journal entry by:

Summarizing key points they’ve learned

Attempting to answer or make sense of lingering questions

Explaining how they can use the lessons in real-life scenarios

Illustrating new concepts, which can be especially helpful for data-focused math lessons

As they continue to make entries, they should figure out which ones effectively allow them to process fresh content.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: The differentiated instruction strategy allows students to process your lesson content individually, in a small group and in a large group, it caters to your classroom’s range of learning and personality types.

Focus: Cooperative learning, research, listening skills.

The think-pair-share strategy exposes students to three lesson-processing experiences within one activity. It’s also easy to monitor and support students as they complete each step.
As the strategy’s name implies, start by asking students to individually think about a given topic or answer a specific question.
Next, pair students together to discuss their results and findings.
Finally, have each pair share their ideas with the rest of the class, and open the floor for further discussion.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: To help students learn helps auditory and participatory learners retain more information.This also gives you an opportunity to listen to each circle’s discussion, asking questions and filling in gaps in understanding.

Focus: Cooperative Learning, Creativity, critical thinking

Organizing students into literature circles not only encourages students to shape and inform each other’s understanding of readings, but helps auditory and participatory learners retain more information.

This also gives you an opportunity to listen to each circle’s discussion, asking questions and filling in gaps in understanding.

As a bonus, some students may develop leadership skills by running the discussion.

This activity makes written content — which, at times, may only be accessible to individual learners with strong reading retention — easier to process for more students.

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Effective teachers are always looking for ways to help their students better process content, as well as seek different avenues that will help them demonstrate their understanding.

Differentiated instruction strategies allow teachers to empower and engage students by accommodating each of their different learning styles. One helpful tactic to employ differentiated instruction strategies is called learning stations-a way to supply your class with multiple ways to learn and understand concepts. Much like a menu offers patrons a variety of options to satisfy their appetite, learning stations expose students to a variety of strategies and choices that address many learners' needs.

Like tiered assignments, flexible grouping, and differentiated instruction as a whole, learning stations are fluid and can span multiple levels. This gives both students and teachers insight as to how a particular individual learns best. These stations offer young minds the opportunity to learn independently while keeping them engaged in the process.

The Difference Between Traditional and Differentiated Centers

For many teachers, learning stations (also called centers) are a staple in their classroom. Here we take a brief look at how traditional stations compare to differentiated ones.

Teachers base differentiated stations on student assessment data, whereas a traditional station is based on whole-group instruction.

In a differentiated station, students work within multilevel resources, whereas traditional station resources are not differentiated.

Differentiated stations have tiered assignments, which include varied student responses, whereas a traditional learning station only has one level of response for all.

Differentiated stations have tiered activities, whereas traditional stations do not.

Multilevel Center Activities

Multilevel center activities are teacher-planned tasks that are designed at three different levels -beginner, intermediate, and advanced - enabling students with diverse learning needs to challenge themselves accordingly. Here are three examples of differentiated learning station activities that you can implement into your classroom centers.

An open-ended activity is where all students in the group tackle the same assignment, but the end product will differ for beginner, intermediate, and advanced clusters. It's a great technique because students will feel comfortable writing within their level.

Example: Ask your students in a reading group to draw a picture of the main character. Afterwards, instruct them to write speech bubbles around the character describing what they might say.

A tiered activity is when students are doing the same activity, but it's tiered according to their difficulty level.

Example: Have your students play a game of memory. This game is easy to differentiate because you can have beginner students try to match a letter with its sound, while more advanced children can try and match a letter to a word. To differentiate this station, assign different bags of cards for each level, and direct specific students to the cards they should choose.

Learning menus, or choice boards, are varied activities that give students options on how they want to learn a concept. They often mimic a tic-tac-toe board where your classroom would pick three activities to complete (one from each row) to form a line. Differentiated instruction menus benefit all students because you can tailor each board to students' readiness, learning styles, or interests, and kids think they are a lot of fun!

Example: Set up an exciting learning menu for math with items like "design math flashcards" and "measure five things in the room", or write math facts in expanded form and pay attention to how each of your students prefers to learn.

Today's classrooms are not taught with "one-size-fits-all" teaching. Differentiated instruction-and learning stations specifically-allow you to meet the needs of all learners while maintaining high standards within groups or individually. When you match a variety of exciting activities to a student's learning style and preference, magic happens.

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Differentiated Instruction Strategies: Learning Stations - TeachHUB

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Effective teachers are always looking for ways to help their students better process content, as well as seek different avenues that will help them demonstrate their understanding. Differentiated instruction strategies allow teachers to empower and engage students by accommodating each of their different learning styles.

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Station Rotation: Differentiating Instruction to Reach All Students

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block:block=566] Boost Standards Mastery and Proficiency Students who use our standards-based formative assessment and practice program achieve higher math and reading assessment scores.

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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12 Awesome Games & Activities To Make Your Classroom Fun

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Games in the classroom are one of the most effective means of engagement and behavior management.

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Have you ever had a student who just couldn't sit still? Or constantly needed to be touching something? Then you have faced a kinesthetic learner. These students love to learn through action and don't respond well to traditional teaching methods.

While your CELTA or TEFL course might have touched on catering to different learning styles, it's a whole different ball game once you are in the classroom and have to manage all the different little personalities.

Catering to this unique learning style in the ESL classroom can be quite a challenge but will help make your lesson plans more engaging.

Using ESL games that allow the learners to see, do, and touch will help your kinesthetic learners enjoy the lesson and the whole class will be having fun while practising their English skills.

Kinesthetic learners tend to also be active learners. We have more on active games for young learners here.

What Is a Kinesthetic Learner?

Kinesthetic learners take in information by discovering and experiencing. These students want to touch everything, move around, and use their whole body to learn.

Characteristics of Kinesthetic Learners

The learner enjoys working with their hands

They use their hands to speak and like to describe things with their hands or even their whole body

They don't like sitting down at their desks for extended periods of time

They respond best to Total Physical Response activities which let them learn by moving and touching.

ESL Games Kinesthetic Learners Will Love

1. Jeopardy

Jeopardy is a class favourite and for good reason. It encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and gives students an excellent chance to practice their speaking skills.

The game requires little setup on your side and is a great way to review different topics that you have been teaching in your class. Jeopardy also gives students a break from their books and creates an exciting atmosphere of friendly competition.
Set Up:

Prepare a jeopardy board with questions on the topics that are being reviewed.

Assign a point value that aligns with the difficulty of the question.

Split the class into groups of 4, 5 or 6.

How to Play:

The first group chooses a topic and a point value.

Read the corresponding question aloud and then everyone in the group has the opportunity to raise their hand and answer the question.

The first student to raise their hand gets to answer first. If they are right their team receives the designated amount of points.

If they get the question wrong, their team loses the points and another team has the chance to answer.

After all the questions have been answered, the team with the highest score wins!

2. Fly Swat

Fly Swat is one of the best ways to review vocabulary while getting the whole class away from their desks and physically engaging in an activity.
Set Up:

Create a bunch of flashcards for the target vocabulary you will be reviewing.

Stick the flashcards onto the board in a random order.

Split the class into two teams and have them line up in front of the board.

How to Play:

Each team sends up one person to the front and they are given a fly swatter.

Read a word aloud and the first student to find it on the board and swat it wins a point for their team!

To make it harder, you can also ask questions or definitions.

Don't forget to only let the students only hit one word per turn to prevent them from hitting as many words as possible.

3. Charades

Charades is a classic game that all children love and is an excellent choice for kinesthetic learners. It allows them to use their whole body and be away from their desks while having fun reviewing vocabulary (or even grammar).
Set Up:

Create cards with the target vocabulary. You can choose from animals to sports and even action verbs.

Write one word on each card and mix up the order.

Split the class up into two groups.

How to Play:

Each team nominates one person to go up and select a card.

The student then has to act out the word and their teammates have to guess the word.

If their team gets it right, they get one point.

Rotate between the two teams until you have reviewed all the vocabulary.

The team with the highest score at the end wins!

4. Memory Game

The Memory Game is a fun way to get students to practice their listening and speaking skills. It encourages them to use their creativity and put their new English skills to the test.
Set Up:

Arrange the seating in the classroom so everyone is sitting in a circle or for bigger classes you can divide the class into groups.

Demonstrate with an example and check that the students understand the game.

How to Play:

The first person (this can be you or a student) starts the story with a fragment like "Once upon a time there lived an evil witch".

The next person then has to repeat the fragment and add a phrase of their own.

Keep going around the circle or from group to group until someone messes up.

For younger students or to practice a particular sentence structure, you can adapt the game to suit your lesson plan needs.

For example, if you are teaching the students vocabulary about food and going to the shops you can make the sentence fragment " I went to the shops and bought ... "

5. Simon Says

Another classic children's game that is perfect for kinesthetic learners is Simon Says. It's a great game to play with students to help them improve their listening skills while at the same time drilling vocabulary.

While the most common way to play Simon Says involves pointing to different body parts, there are tons of ways to put your own spin on it and make it more challenging.

Ask students to find objects around the classroom, touch certain colours, practice specific actions or attempt more difficult tasks like "Simon says pat your head and rub your belly."

So there you go! Spruce up your lesson planning with these five great kinesthetic learner games and start catering to your learners' different needs.

And while not every single student learns best this way, it's a break from the monotony and a great way to have fun with the whole class.

What do you do for kinesthetic learners in your class? Tweet your ideas to us!

About the Author

Lauren Melnick is a South African travel blogger and ESL teacher currently living in Ubon, Thailand. When she isn't making lesson plans and watching nursery rhymes on YouTube, you can find her eating up a storm, taking selfies with dinosaurs, and planning her next adventure.

Follow her travels on Wanderlust Movement, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.

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5 Fun ESL Games For Engaging Kinesthetic Learners - Shane English Schools Worldwide

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Have you ever had a student who just couldn't sit still? Or constantly needed to be touching something? Then you have faced a kinesthetic learner. These students love to learn through action and don't respond well to traditional teaching methods.

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by Claudia Pesce 95,020 views

Do you have students who consistently ask you to write down a new word? Or perhaps students who open the book and try to find the page with the language point you happen to be teaching? How about students who respond better to visual stimuli rather than audio? Then, in all likelihood you've got visual learners: these are students who learn more easily through images or written words.

5 Characteristics of Visual Learners:

They forget what they hear, but rather remember what they see.

They enjoy puzzles, board games, building blocks and all types of crafts materials.

They have a better sense of space than time.

They are very imaginative and may come up with lots of ideas and/or solutions to a problem, especially of they can "see" it in their mind's eye.

They learn words and their correct spelling more easily after seeing them written down.

Use these resources to capitalize on this particular learning style:

1. Flashcards

Visual learners of all ages and levels learn better with flashcards. The great thing is that flashcards are highly versatile; there is a huge variety of activities you can do with your class - they'll never get bored! Use them to introduce new vocabulary, or practice, review or even test their knowledge. And don't forget flashcard games!

2. Comics and Cartoons

Take a comic strip and white out the speech bubbles. Have your students complete them with their own story. Or have your visual learners draw one themselves, or a cartoon to illustrate a scene. This type of activity also gives visual learners their much-needed quiet time. They thrive in learning environments where they can think and concentrate.

3. Word Puzzles

Having visual learners doesn't necessarily mean that they have to only use pictures or illustrations to learn. They also relate quite well to the written word because they can "see" it, and so it is much easier for them to remember words they have practiced. Use all types of puzzles from crosswords to word searches - create your own!

4. Draw - Pictionary

One of the best games you can play with visual learners is Pictionary. But instead of using the board game as is (because it may be too hard), make your own version with word cards that you can create to suit your students' level.

5. Whiteboard Games

Whether you use it for drawing or writing, you should use the whiteboard a lot in classes with a great deal of visual learners. And don't just write or draw in them, be sure to play plenty of games. Use different color board markers - visual learners love colors! You can color code new vocabulary, for example, by writing verbs in green, adjectives in red and nouns in blue.

6. Graphic Organizers

For visual learners, concepts and words often get lost if they are not organized in a graphic that is both clear and easy to remember - and this exactly is where graphic organizers come in. From Venn Diagrams to Sequence Charts, these graphic helpers really get the point across.

7. Video

Visual learners may find listening to audio too hard. They have trouble grasping concepts they can't clearly "see". But they must still develop their listening comprehension skills, which is why video is a lot better than simple audio. Visual learners get images and context to accompany what they hear, and this boosts their listening comprehension.

8. Multimedia

Multimedia presentations like PowerPoint slides also help students retain new concepts and words. They are easy to make and very effective in a classroom full of visual learners.

9. Illustrated reading

When reading with visual learners, it's much better if you use books with illustrations. There are wonderful graphic novel versions of classics like Treasure Island, A Wrinkle in Time or The Odyssey.

What to avoid:

There are certain resources or strategies that will not work well with visual learners. These are mainly:

Anything that relies too heavily on audio (without video)

Following strictly verbal instructions - they must be written down

Spelling out words without writing them on the board - visual learners need to see them

There are several different learning styles your ESL students could fit into.

By figuring out how they learn best, and catering to this particular style, you'll be making use of abilities your students already possess. Struggling to get them to do something (like listen to a CD) simply because they "have to" or "it's what other classes do" is not only counterproductive, but also frustrating for your students. Work with them, and their abilities, and you'll soon see them making progress by leaps and bounds.

P.S. If you enjoyed this article, please help spread it by clicking one of those sharing buttons below. And if you are interested in more, you should follow our Facebook page where we share more about creative, non-boring ways to teach English.

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ESL Learning Styles: 9 Ways to Teach Visual Learners

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by Claudia Pesce 95,020 views Do you have students who consistently ask you to write down a new word? Or perhaps students who open the book and try to find the page with the language point you happen to be teaching? How about students who respond better to visual stimuli rather than audio?

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Here, we are covering activities for auditory learners, but you'll also discover types of learners (an auditory learner is just one learning style!) and how to best support students with specific listening needs. Let's get started with auditory processing activities to support auditory learners. For students with auditory sensitivities that impact learning and participation in the classroom, understanding the auditory learner is essential.

What is an Auditory Learner?

Learning styles are the manner in which we best learn and process information.

Examples of learning styles include auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and visual learners. Each of us has a preference (either obvious or less obvious) to one style of learning or another. As children develop, they can progress through different stages and preferences of learning.

Kids can succeed with a variety of learning styles. One strategy is to address the sense of hearing when teaching new concepts or reinforcing older concepts. There are many characteristics of a student who is an

auditory learner. A few indications include the children who can't seem to stop talking, the child who repeats verbal information out loud, or the child who prefers discussion in classroom activities.

Read below to find more characteristics of auditory learners and activities for auditory learners in the classroom or at home.

You may have heard the term "audio learner" used as well. An audio learner is another phrase that means auditory learner, and refers to someone who learns best through auditory sources of information.

Audio learners/auditory learners are individuals who prefer to process information through listening, speaking, and hearing. They have a natural inclination towards absorbing and retaining information through sound and auditory input.

This means that for them, sources of information such as lectures, discussions, audio recordings, podcasts, and verbal instructions are the best ways to absorb and retain information.

Audio learners tend to excel in activities that involve spoken language, such as participating in group discussions, engaging in debates, or listening to audiobooks. They often have strong listening skills and can easily grasp concepts by hearing them explained or discussed aloud. To optimize their learning experience, audio learners may benefit from using techniques like reading aloud, engaging in conversations, recording and replaying lectures, or utilizing mnemonic devices that involve sound and rhythm.

Auditory Memory

Auditory memory, or audio memory is another concept that should be covered.

Auditory memory (aka audio memory) refers to the ability to remember and recall information that has been heard or listened to. It is a component of auditory learning and involves the retention and retrieval of auditory stimuli or information.

People with strong audio memory can remember and recall spoken words, conversations, lectures, music, or any other auditory input with relative ease. This type of memory can be advantageous for individuals who learn best through auditory means, as they can remember information more effectively when it is presented in an audio format.

To improve auditory memory, try strategies such as:

repetition

verbal rehearsal

mnemonic devices

voice recordings

audio notes

Using these tools can assist in reinforcing and retaining information for individuals with a preference for auditory learning.

Characteristics of Auditory Learners

Not all children who are auditory learners will experience all of the characteristics below.

Prefer listening in the classroom

Like to talk

Repeats directions

Can't concentrate when there are noises in the environment

Can't fall asleep to music or a television

Benefits from repetition of directions

Learns best when listening

Learns well from videos

Easily recalls songs, poems, and phrases

Talks out decision processes

Remembers facts in detail when hearing them

Prefers to hear all of the facts when learning something new

Hums or talks to self

Easily can identify differences in pitch or tone of sounds

Follows verbal instructions better than written instructions

Prefers smaller groups in the classroom (limits the auditory distractions)

Remembers facts better after repeating them

Talks or moves lips while they write

Recalls a person's tone of voice when remembering a conversation

When reading or writing, written information may not make sense until it's been read aloud

Writes with light pencil pressure

Children who learn best through the auditory sense may benefit from auditory strategies.

May have auditory sensitivities in the classroom

Try some of the activities for auditory learners that are listed below:

Activities for Auditory Learners

For individuals who are auditory learners, an auditory learning style of specific activities can support intake and retention of information.

Read homework directions out loud

Record facts on video and then replay it. A mobile phone or tablet works well for this strategy.

Sing facts to a tune

Write a song when memorizing facts or spelling words

Teach to other students or even to stuffed animals

Practice in front of a mirror

Try a whisper phone

Listen to books on tape using headphones

Rhyme facts

Spell words out loud in different pitches and tones

Use noise eliminating headphones in the classroom or during tests

Find a quiet space for homework

Turn off distractions. Consider televisions, phones, or even fans

Use mnemonic devices to memorize facts

Listen to audiobooks

Use oral reports for classroom projects

Allow students to record portions of homework or projects onto devices

Make flashcards and read them out loud

During classroom lessons, clap or speak louder during important parts

Speak in syllables

What are your best strategies to help auditory learners?

The Auditory Processing Ki t is a printable packet to address listening skills, whole body listening, listening comprehension, active listening, and auditory processing needs. This printable packet contains active listening activities, hands-on strategies, activity cards, visual cards, handouts, and more.

The Auditory Processing Kit is a tool to support learners by building skills in listening comprehension, auditory processing needs, and much more. The tools offer support to learners with hyper-responsive or hypo-responsive auditory systems. Therapists love the hands-on activities to support learning and active listening through play and handwriting tasks.

Listening Comprehension

Fine Motor Listening Skills

How to Improve Listening Skills Poster

Clap It Out Syllables Orthographic Activities

Beginning Sounds Letter Activity

Rhyming Words Activity

Activity Listening Activity

Hearing Skills Activity

Auditory Memory Strategies

What Does Active Listening Look Like?

Whole Body Listening Activity

Whole Body Listening Poster

Listening and Motor Skills Game

2 Step Direction Cards

How to Support Hyper-Responsiveness of the Auditory Sense (handout and info sheet)

How to Support Hypo-responsiveness of the Auditory Sense (handout and info sheet)

Auditory Processing Tools Cards

Auditory Processing Speed -2 Digit Numbers

Auditory Processing Speed -3 Digit Numbers

Auditory Processing Speed -4 Digit Numbers

Use the handouts and posters to teach about the auditory system and auditory sensitivities, with strategies to support individualized needs. Get your copy of the Auditory Processing Kit today.

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Practical Activities for Auditory Learners - The OT Toolbox

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This resource covers activities for auditory learners, including strategies to support students who learn best through the auditory sense.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here, we are covering activities for auditory learners, but you'll also discover types of learners (an auditory learner is just one learning style!) and how to best support students with specific listening needs. Let's get started with auditory processing activities to support auditory learners. For students with auditory sensitivities that impact learning and participation in the classroom, understanding the auditory learner is essential.

What is an Auditory Learner?

Learning styles are the manner in which we best learn and process information.

Examples of learning styles include auditory learners, kinesthetic learners, and visual learners. Each of us has a preference (either obvious or less obvious) to one style of learning or another. As children develop, they can progress through different stages and preferences of learning.

Kids can succeed with a variety of learning styles. One strategy is to address the sense of hearing when teaching new concepts or reinforcing older concepts. There are many characteristics of a student who is an

auditory learner. A few indications include the children who can't seem to stop talking, the child who repeats verbal information out loud, or the child who prefers discussion in classroom activities.

Read below to find more characteristics of auditory learners and activities for auditory learners in the classroom or at home.

You may have heard the term "audio learner" used as well. An audio learner is another phrase that means auditory learner, and refers to someone who learns best through auditory sources of information.

Audio learners/auditory learners are individuals who prefer to process information through listening, speaking, and hearing. They have a natural inclination towards absorbing and retaining information through sound and auditory input.

This means that for them, sources of information such as lectures, discussions, audio recordings, podcasts, and verbal instructions are the best ways to absorb and retain information.

Audio learners tend to excel in activities that involve spoken language, such as participating in group discussions, engaging in debates, or listening to audiobooks. They often have strong listening skills and can easily grasp concepts by hearing them explained or discussed aloud. To optimize their learning experience, audio learners may benefit from using techniques like reading aloud, engaging in conversations, recording and replaying lectures, or utilizing mnemonic devices that involve sound and rhythm.

Auditory Memory

Auditory memory, or audio memory is another concept that should be covered.

Auditory memory (aka audio memory) refers to the ability to remember and recall information that has been heard or listened to. It is a component of auditory learning and involves the retention and retrieval of auditory stimuli or information.

People with strong audio memory can remember and recall spoken words, conversations, lectures, music, or any other auditory input with relative ease. This type of memory can be advantageous for individuals who learn best through auditory means, as they can remember information more effectively when it is presented in an audio format.

To improve auditory memory, try strategies such as:

repetition

verbal rehearsal

mnemonic devices

voice recordings

audio notes

Using these tools can assist in reinforcing and retaining information for individuals with a preference for auditory learning.

Characteristics of Auditory Learners

Not all children who are auditory learners will experience all of the characteristics below.

Prefer listening in the classroom

Like to talk

Repeats directions

Can't concentrate when there are noises in the environment

Can't fall asleep to music or a television

Benefits from repetition of directions

Learns best when listening

Learns well from videos

Easily recalls songs, poems, and phrases

Talks out decision processes

Remembers facts in detail when hearing them

Prefers to hear all of the facts when learning something new

Hums or talks to self

Easily can identify differences in pitch or tone of sounds

Follows verbal instructions better than written instructions

Prefers smaller groups in the classroom (limits the auditory distractions)

Remembers facts better after repeating them

Talks or moves lips while they write

Recalls a person's tone of voice when remembering a conversation

When reading or writing, written information may not make sense until it's been read aloud

Writes with light pencil pressure

Children who learn best through the auditory sense may benefit from auditory strategies.

May have auditory sensitivities in the classroom

Try some of the activities for auditory learners that are listed below:

Activities for Auditory Learners

For individuals who are auditory learners, an auditory learning style of specific activities can support intake and retention of information.

Read homework directions out loud

Record facts on video and then replay it. A mobile phone or tablet works well for this strategy.

Sing facts to a tune

Write a song when memorizing facts or spelling words

Teach to other students or even to stuffed animals

Practice in front of a mirror

Try a whisper phone

Listen to books on tape using headphones

Rhyme facts

Spell words out loud in different pitches and tones

Use noise eliminating headphones in the classroom or during tests

Find a quiet space for homework

Turn off distractions. Consider televisions, phones, or even fans

Use mnemonic devices to memorize facts

Listen to audiobooks

Use oral reports for classroom projects

Allow students to record portions of homework or projects onto devices

Make flashcards and read them out loud

During classroom lessons, clap or speak louder during important parts

Speak in syllables

What are your best strategies to help auditory learners?

The Auditory Processing Ki t is a printable packet to address listening skills, whole body listening, listening comprehension, active listening, and auditory processing needs. This printable packet contains active listening activities, hands-on strategies, activity cards, visual cards, handouts, and more.

The Auditory Processing Kit is a tool to support learners by building skills in listening comprehension, auditory processing needs, and much more. The tools offer support to learners with hyper-responsive or hypo-responsive auditory systems. Therapists love the hands-on activities to support learning and active listening through play and handwriting tasks.

Listening Comprehension

Fine Motor Listening Skills

How to Improve Listening Skills Poster

Clap It Out Syllables Orthographic Activities

Beginning Sounds Letter Activity

Rhyming Words Activity

Activity Listening Activity

Hearing Skills Activity

Auditory Memory Strategies

What Does Active Listening Look Like?

Whole Body Listening Activity

Whole Body Listening Poster

Listening and Motor Skills Game

2 Step Direction Cards

How to Support Hyper-Responsiveness of the Auditory Sense (handout and info sheet)

How to Support Hypo-responsiveness of the Auditory Sense (handout and info sheet)

Auditory Processing Tools Cards

Auditory Processing Speed -2 Digit Numbers

Auditory Processing Speed -3 Digit Numbers

Auditory Processing Speed -4 Digit Numbers

Use the handouts and posters to teach about the auditory system and auditory sensitivities, with strategies to support individualized needs. Get your copy of the Auditory Processing Kit today.

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Practical Activities for Auditory Learners - The OT Toolbox

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This resource covers activities for auditory learners, including strategies to support students who learn best through the auditory sense.

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Open Ended Questions and Critical Thinking Skills in Children

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The difference between "open-ended projects" and "design projects" - IEEE Conference Publication

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IEEE Xplore, delivering full text access to the world's highest quality technical literature in engineering and technology. | IEEE Xplore

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Research shows that putting pen to paper helps us both remember and comprehend information, which makes handwriting a valuable learning tool. Every day, students write to learn, and there are many ways to incorporate writing into the classroom. One method that works across the curriculum at any age is journaling.

Kay Burke, author of How to Assess Authentic Learning, states:

"Journal writing provokes more reflection and encourages students to take charge of their learning and their feelings. Journals help students make connections between what is really important to them, the curriculum, and the world."

Whether it's language arts, math, science, or other subjects, journaling in the classroom offers a variety of benefits for students and teachers alike.

In a Master of Arts dissertation from Saint Xavier University, researchers found that journaling increased trust between students and teachers. Journaling also resulted in students sharing their opinions more openly with each other. The study reports that:

"In reflecting on their own thinking process, students will become adept at recognizing the importance of self-exploration, questioning, and connecting. When this reflection is in written form, students have a source of dialogue prepared for use during class discussions or when asking questions."

Journaling helps students to be less restrained when expressing themselves. It also gives students time to organize their thoughts and prepare responses, which can give them the extra confidence they need to participate in classroom discussions.

Journaling is also a way for teachers to learn more about their students. According to Language Connections: Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum, "Journal writing works because every time a person writes an entry, instruction is individualized." The book also states, "The journal records the student's individual travel through the academic world." Journals are a great assessment tool for teachers! They reveal the students' level of comprehension, as well as what students require in order to improve problem areas.

Journaling in Your Classroom

If you're thinking about implementing journals in your classroom, here are some tips to help maximize the benefits:

1. Be consistent. Regular journaling will help your students become comfortable with the practice. You may want to set aside a special time for daily journaling or ask students to journal following a particular lesson. Try to allow journaling time at least once or twice a week (or every day if you can fit it in!). Be sure to give students at least 10-15 minutes to write so they don't feel rushed.

2. Give direction. Make sure your students have a clear understanding of what and how you expect them to write. Set a minimum number of words, sentences, or paragraphs (for younger students, they can draw a picture and, if they're able, write a word or two about their picture). Ask students to write persuasive, narrative, or expository pieces so they can practice those forms of writing. Mix it up to keep students interested and engaged - just be sure to give clear directions for each journaling assignment.

3. Use writing prompts. Writing prompts provide students with a clear goal as to what you expect them to write about. They also provide you with a way to evaluate what they're taking away from a particular lesson. You will be able to see which aspects of a lesson resonate with them, what they have remembered, and what they connected with. You can also assign prompts that don't necessarily align with a specific lesson but allow you to get to know your students better: What's your favorite holiday? What do you want to be when you grow up? Describe the strangest dream you ever had.

4. Use free writing. You may also want to ask students to free-write on occasion. Leave the subject and content completely up to them; just give them some time to write about whatever they want. If they're struggling to figure out what to write about, they can even write about the fact that they don't know what to write about: Why are they stumped? How does that make them feel? (Okay, technically that would be a prompt, but sometimes you do have to get the ball rolling.) Just get them to put that pencil to paper, because the more often they write the easier writing will become.

5. Review students' work. Regularly review your students' writing and provide responses where appropriate. Grading your students' journal writing may cause them to feel pressured and not be as open in their responses. However, informal assessments will help you monitor student progress and determine whether the goals of this practice are being met.

6. Encourage self-evaluation. Have students assess their own work. This can be a journaling assignment in itself! Ask them to review their previous journal writing and choose their favorite and least favorite pieces. They can then write about why they chose these pieces and how they might complete future journaling assignments differently based on this evaluation.

And remember: Be patient! Some students may be resistant to journaling at first. However, many teachers find that students come to appreciate the benefits of journaling and actually request that the practice continue!

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The Benefits of Journaling in the Classroom - Universal Publishing Blog

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Whether it's language arts, math, science, or other subjects, journaling in the classroom offers a variety of benefits for students and teachers alike.

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The Importance of Student Journals and How to Respond Efficiently

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Educator and blogger Todd Finley on why student journals are an important tool for measuring comprehension. And he shares his favorite reflective writing formats and describe a labor-saving method of teacher response.

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Journaling: Advice & Tips for Teachers (Grades K-12)

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Learn how to incorporate journaling in your classroom. Teachers can use journaling as a kind of window into how students are thinking about what they are learning. This is a great assessment tool as well.

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How well do your students communicate in class? If they tend to be shy participants, there's a learning tool you can use to help them think independently, pair up and discuss with a classmate or in small groups, and share their knowledge with the class. Developed by Frank Lyman, a professor at the University of Maryland, in 1981, it's simply called Think-Pair-Share. I'm a big fan of this collaborative discussion strategy, especially with my primary students.

How It Works

The teacher asks an open-ended question and students think quietly about it for a minute or two. Then every student pairs up with a partner and they discuss the question for two to five minutes. Finally, the whole class engages in a discussion where students raise their hands and share all the thoughts and ideas they've gathered.

With young children, it's best if the teacher models the technique with a volunteer so the class knows what to do. Just make sure to emphasize the rules of this exercise with your students. They must use their inside voices, take turns, and avoid interrupting their partner. Some teachers even pass out work sheets so students can write down the questions and their thoughts.
Further Reading: We Spy: An Interactive Classroom Activity
The Benefits

Some students feel safer and more relaxed when talking in small groups, rather than having to speak in front of the entire class. The Think-Pair-Share activity gives them the opportunity to feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts. In addition to fostering social skills, this strategy also improves students' speaking and listening skills. When pairs brainstorm together, each student learns from their partner. This can help students expand their vocabulary as they learn new words from their peers and build on their prior knowledge.

I found this activity to be particularly useful when I was substituting in the elementary grades. Whether I incorporated it into the daily lesson plans that were left for me or created a fill-in lesson with my own open-ended questions, the discussions generated by the children in the class were truly interesting. One piece of advice: Make sure your students stay on topic. Once, as I strolled the classroom during this activity and I heard a lot about costumes and parties-too bad the question I asked wasn't about Halloween!

When your class finishes a book, use Think-Pair-Share to check their comprehension. Invite your students to discuss the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why) to understand all parts of the story. Have them discuss who their favorite character was and why. Ask them, "What if you changed the plot of the story? What would happen if...?"

Make use of the Think-Pair-Share strategy when dealing with word problems. These complex situations can sometimes be difficult for young children to grasp, and this strategy can help your students work together to find the correct answer. You're not limited to word problems, either. Pairs can review the steps to finding the product or quotient in simple multiplication and division problems, too.

There's a wide variety of scientific topics students can discuss. For instance, if some students are struggling to understand the process of plant growth, why not lead a discussion on how plants start as little seeds and grow into the final product? Space travel is also a great discussion topic. How much do your students know about the International Space Station? How do astronauts live, eat, and work?

Use this strategy to spark conversations about your social studies curriculum. Because many areas of this subject connect to real life, this activity can also help you to get to know your class. Try asking questions like "Why is it important for families to work together?" or "How does your family celebrate holidays?" You can connect these inquiries to the class curriculum, learn about your students, and give your students the opportunity to bond and learn about each other.
Further Reading: Creative STEM Professional Development Activities to Plan Now
Whether you're a veteran teacher or new to the game, the Think-Pair-Share technique can be an effective tool for fostering discussions in the classroom. This cooperative activity can be used with kids of all ages, even middle and high school students. Any method that can stimulate a student's curiosity in a fun manner is a teaching tool to add to your book of tricks.

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How to Use the Think-Pair-Share Activity in Your Classroom

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How well do your students communicate in class? Try using the Think-Pair-Share strategy to engage students in effective discussions.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use:  reinforces material and helps the students retain the material. This activity is good for the visual learners because they see where each word goes and it helps them see that picture later to help them retain the information.

Focus: Collaboration, creativity, communication

This can be done as groups or individually. This seems more like a game to most students so they get real into it and it helps them learn.

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Age: All

Content Area: All

Use: To help the students memorize material

Focus: Listening, memorization