How do kids learn best? This question is reasonable to answer when taking my education degree. But it’s clear the question should be: how does this kid learn best.
Here is the model developed for a classroom setting and applied it to home schooling. Also this model can be used to evaluate curricula in books for home educators.
The Active Learner
The kid is controlled by his impulses; doing is his thing; forethought is not. This kid lives for the moment. Any learning process that occurs is an unintentional by-product of his actions. He is interested in touching, manipulating, he wants to construct and destroy. Surely, there is a high correlation between the active learner and the kid with at least one broken bone by age eight.
So, the active learner is the least suited for the traditional classroom, and formal learning experiences, he can’t sit still for lectures, repetition or drill. A matter that requires concentration or seatwork quickly frustrates him; he has a short attention span, and does not organize nor plan ahead. Such a learner can’t sustain a project or an assignment over an extended period of time. He needs to be uncontrolled by structure, routine or authority, as he loves games and enjoys being in a group but is competitive and often takes charge. Other ones enjoy him for his antics and sense of fun. In a highly structured environment with strong authority he can quickly become a behavior problem, causing disruptions and acting defiantly.
Program Suggestions
This learner needs strong but patient parenting. Inability to control their impulses must be brought under the loving command of your authority.
Set up an environment that is quiet and clear of distractions. This can help your active learner to stay focused longer on his schoolwork. Set up a daily routine that delays the activities and subjects he likes best until the afternoon as a reward for staying on task during the morning. Provide him with short breaks after each subject is completed, and let him do something physical during this time – go outside, exercise or complete a daily chore. Add to the routine regularly variety: field trips, special projects or cooperative classes. Get an element of competition where possible; for example use computer programs, which have a game-like format and reward players for improving their scores in skill areas.
Be open-minded of your active learner’s need to move around, lie on the floor or fidget while studying. Making him to sit still when it isn’t necessary means all his focus will be on this command, and he won’t be able to concentrate on the subject at hand. Be flexible, and tolerate the nonessential stuff. Try to fight the battles that really matter.
Set achievable goals and immediately reward good attitudes and acceptable work. Incentive charts, stickers or special treats can all be motivational. If you are looking for resources and curriculum, choose as many as possible that are activity-based. Active learner needs to physically handle the material he’s learning and to manipulate it in a variety of contexts to understand it.
Finally, think sports. The learner is often gifted in areas that require physical dexterity, primarily athletics. There are many active learners succeed in an organized sports program, as it’s an acceptable release of their energy and it is often a place where they can excel and feel good about their achievements. It gives them a much needed focus and teaches them to control their impulsive behavior because they are highly motivated to play.
Try not to despair with your active learner. Of course, their energy can often be exhausting for harried homeschool moms with lots of other kids as well. Intending a program that honors their learning style will do a great deal to manage their behavior and bring out the best in them. Many older active learners who have grown up to be passionate in their pursuit of the Lord and who are real leaders among their peers – God has His purposes in mind in their unique design.
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