Author: e200102787

Stripling Elementary Math Newsletter
October 2012
Ask the Math Coach: Kathy_Spruiell@gwinnett.k12.ga.us Ask the Math Specialist: Cindy_Jenkins@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Teaching MATH with the BRAIN in mind!

Learning Styles
Our learning style preferences are shaped by the sum of our environmental experiences and genetic predispositions, but may also change and evolve over time. These preferences demonstrate how our BRAINS prefer to process and learn new information. The most common/familiar styles include:
Visual, Auditory, Tactile, and Kinesthetic styles.
The alignment of student and teacher learning styles can influence the perceptions of both behavioral and learning strengths and weaknesses. We LIKE to be taught how our brains LIKE to learn. We LIKE to teach how our brains LIKE to process.

Visual
Learn best through seeing, imagining, graphic organizers, and a quiet environment.

Auditory
Learn best through listening and talking, rhyming, singing, music, naming, and words.

Tactile
Learn best through motor activities, physical contact with learning objects, sharing and feeling

Great books
to investigate:

Kinesthetic
Learn best through movement and actions, can be very physical, work best individually or in small groups.

Investigating your students’ learning styles
can give you so much instructional insight,
IT’S SPOOKY!

The Common Core Connection— Why is it important to teach to learning styles in MATH??
Students are no longer ONLY accountable for getting the correct answer to an algorithm. They must be able to create, understand, and analyze models and strategies involved in computation. Teachers need to know how students process information and learning so they can support multiple processes to arrive at an answer with modeling. It is also important for teachers to know how they process information and learning so they may fill their own gaps in instructional strategies.