A Letter to the Teacher
"…we've learned that helping
kids find out who they really are---what they are good at and what
they love to do---is the most important way of maintaining natural
curiosity and an eagerness to learn. We need to stop drawing attention
to what kids can't do and start emphasizing what they can do."
(From DISCOVER YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING STYLE
by Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson. Copyright (c)
1999 by Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Kindle Hodson. Used by
permission of Prima Publishing, a division of Random House,
Inc.)
Welcome to All About You, a safe harbor for children to explore interests, learn about strengths, and realize that they can take an active, daily responsibility for their choices in life. You, as their teacher, know that the more success they experience under your care, based on how they learn best, the better equipped they are to develop into productive adults. This empowering process helps children feel better about themselves, while learning to recognize and appreciate the kaleidoscopic range of individual differences in classmates, friends and family.
If you listen and observe respectfully, your students will tell you how they see themselves and they will voice concerns. This exchange unlocks a magical treasure chest of dreams, hopes, interests, and concerns--which reveal deeper truths underlying their motivation to learn.
| Are interests the same as talents? The authors of Discover Your Child's Learning Style, Mariaemma Willis and Victoria Hodson, explain that interests are not talents. Many adults have interests and talents swirled together in a way that keeps children in a "whirlwind" of activity while sidestepping their need to pursue genuine interests, concerns and questions. According to Willis and Hodson, "when interests are viewed separately from talents and seen as valid expressions of a child's learning style, they provide important information." When children act upon and think about the things they love or respect, they feel purposeful. Can you think of a better way to feel connected to life and to feel valued as a person? You can visit the authors' web site at www.redp.com. |
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Dr. Mel Levine, Professor of Pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill, (www.allkindsofminds.org) believes that we tend to expect elementary children to be "good at everything." We tell them they need to be "well-rounded" individuals. "Some kids are. Most kids aren't," says Dr. Levine, and this can have devastating effects on self-esteem.
When a student compares himself
to classmates and siblings and somehow arrives at the devastating conclusion
that he is hopelessly inferior, daily life can become intensely stressful
and intimidating.
"Barely a Gleam of Self-Esteem," by Dr.
Mel Levine
Based upon the work of Dr. Levine and his colleagues, the All Kinds of Minds Institute is committed to undertaking research, product development, program design, and training to foster the "understanding and optimal care of children with differences in learning." Carve out time in your busy schedule to visit www.allkindsofminds.org. Make a point to see The Learning Base while you're there! You will gain a deeper understanding of ways to take advantage of your students' special interests (affinities) in ways that can both motivate and model how to work through or work around developmental weaknesses.
You can register to attend "Schools Attuned," a training program that will give you the knowledge and the skills, plus a collection of innovative online and print tools, to meet the diverse needs of ALL your students. Up to five hundred North Carolina teachers have the opportunity to attend the training free of charge. Go to Programs and Products at www.allkindsofminds.org to register for the training.
More Resources for Your Classroom
Project
SUMIT: Read case studies and
lesson plans from Schools Using Multiple Intelligence Theory.
Project
Zero: Visit this site to learn how to create communities
of reflective, independent learners; to enhance deep understanding
within disciplines; and to promote critical and creative thinking.
All About You, the Educator*
Index
of Learning Styles Questionnaire, NC State University: Take
an online inventory of your learning styles.
(Not designed for elementary students)
The
Keirsey Temperament Sorter II: Take an online
personality inventory for adults.
*These informal, fun inventories are available online for adults. Please do not use these instruments with children. There are many other inventories like these, which indicate probable strengths, habits, and tendencies. Use these to gain a deeper understanding of your teaching style and personality in the classroom. Labeling students because of results on such assessments and inventories is misleading and can be destructive, especially if the child uses the label as an excuse or a way to avoid strengthening a weakness.