Nodehill Study Skills

Learning Styles

To make your own multiple intelligence wheel click the following link:

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/ict/multiple_int/index.htm

Assessment of Learning Styles Unit

Thank you all for your wonderful comments.  Your teachers have told me how hard you have worked this term and I'm very pleased that you seem to be enjoying learning how to learn!  I plan to make a few changes to the unit next year, based on the great ideas you have provided.  We'll have more lessons on the brain, carry on having a range of activities and maybe even change the name "Study Skills"to "Learning to Learn" as someone suggested that the word "study" might put people off!  If you have any other suggestions please come and see me at any time as I look forward to talking to you all about your work, or you could always post a comment on the blog.  Thanks again for all your hard work.

Miss Garcia

Learning Styles in Science

Here are some ways in which I have used learning styles in Science lessons to cater for the needs of different children and their preferred learning styles.

Lab equipment lesson: 

Initially, I grouped the pupils in a circle and gave them an opportunity to look at and handle various pieces of lab apparatus before asking them to draw and label diagrams of this apparatus in their Science books. 

To consolidate the work done in the lesson, the pupils were provided with jumbled up pictures and diagrams of the equipment we had looked at and they had to cut them out and match them with their correct identifying labels.

Solids, Liquids and Gases:

In this lesson I spoke to the children about the particle arrangements of solids, liquids and gases.  We discussed ideas and then the children drew particle diagrams in their books.  We then read information from the interactive white boards whilst playing games.  At the end of the lesson we played a game which involved the children taking the role of particles and forming different particle arrangements depending on whether the teacher calls out the name of a solid, liquid or gas.

Learning Styles

So far the unit on Learning Styles has gone well.  The two classes I teach (5NG and 6LR) have really enjoyed learning about their preferred learning styles and have been able to discuss ways in which this affects learning.

We started the term by looking at the brain.  To emphasise the importance of the brain and it’s effects on learning I created “our wonderful brain” display which is in the school cloakroom for all to see!

We then moved on to learning styles and discussed the effects and impact of learning styles in the school environment.  Children completed some short questionnaires in order to determine their preferred learning style and were asked to keep a note of ways in which learning styles were used in lessons.  The feedback from 6LR today was very positive and most of the children were able to discuss their findings with confidence. 

As I teach 5NG in my form room we’ve created a “learning styles” display board where children have thoroughly enjoyed sticking photos of themselves next to their preferred learning style. 

Also I have taken both classes to the ICT suite and used a website, kindly provided by Mr. Chubb, which produces a Multiple Intelligence wheel based upon Gardner's eight multiple intelligences.  The children were then able to print off their wheels and compare them and discuss differences.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/ict/multiple_int/index.htm

I am now in the process of collecting all the learning styles data for years 5 and 6 and I’m hoping to pass this on to all Key Stage 2 teaching staff at the start of next half term.

I would appreciate any comments from other teachers in the Study Skills team on how they have found this unit.