Thursday, July 26, 2012

Learning Styles

Along with Multiple Intelligences, I also have them do a Learning Style survey

Learning Style pages.
Right side page flipped over.

Page 8 Learning Style Survey
This page is a survey that the kids take to identify what their personal learning style is.  The survey is split into three parts (visual, auditory, kinesthetic).  They read each statement and mark it with a 0 if the statement does not apply to them, a 1 if the statement sometimes applies to them, and a 2 if the statement strongly applies to them.  When they are done with each section the add up their numbers.
Learning Style survey.  As you can see, I am certainly NOT an auditory learner.


Underneath the survey, the kids tape down a page of learning style suggestions.  I like this because they are pretty specific and some of them are really unique ideas (if you are kinesthetic, chew gum while studying).
Learning Style suggestions

Page 7 Learning Style Activity
On this page I had them use the suggestions from page 8 to draw some ideas of the best ways for them to learn
Learning Style activity. 

I think that these pages are especially important because kids need to understand that not everyone processes information the same way.  Most of the time kids don't know anything about learning styles and they think that they are "dumb" when in reality they just aren't studying or learning in the right way.  A kid that isn't a particularly strong auditory learner might end up thinking that they aren't smart in a history class where the teacher lectures, but as soon as that kid starts to draw pictures and make flashcards they realize that they can do it.

I've had kids complain to me that they aren't doing well in a particular class where the teacher lectures and they tell me that the reason is, "I'm a visual learner, of course I'm not going to be doing well when all she does is talk."  This makes me smile because I'm glad that they know this information about themselves.  When this happens though, we have to have the conversation about how they can help themselves in this type of an environment instead of just blaming the type of instruction they are receiving.  It's always nice to know though that something I did stuck with them :)

Download Folder (there's a bunch of stuff in there)

*I don't take credit for creating ANY of these.  I would link to where I got them from but I have no idea where to even look*

Unfortunately, I can't find the file for the learning suggestions so the survey is all I have uploaded.  A few commenters though have found some though so scroll down and check out their links!

29 comments:

  1. Please post these and the multiple intelligences pages - you are becoming my ISN guru as I start this process! Thanks for everything!

    Brynn - www.brynncody.blogspot.com

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  2. I would love the MI pages!! I agree with Brynn you are my ISN guru too.

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  3. As a math teacher of 16 years, you and your ISN ideas are inspiring me!! Please post the learning suggestions!

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  4. Found this link that I think has the learning suggestions you used:

    http://www.as.wvu.edu/phys/rotter/phys201/1_Habits_of_the_Mind/Learning_Styles.html

    Hope that helps everybody. I'm just going to retype them to fit my notebooks (and so I can use a cute font!)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for finding that! It has some different statements, but definitely the same idea.

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  5. I didn't look at all of the statements, but the first ones for each section were the same: http://www.ldpride.net/learning_style_work.html

    Thank you SO much for this step-by-step ISN guide. I'm so excited about starting this with my math and probably my science students!

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  6. Thank you for all of your detailed how to information. This is my first year teaching and I really want to use ISN's but I've been overwhelmed trying to decide how to start! When you have a page like the "learning suggestions" where it is not a full sheet of paper but still a standard rectangle, do you use a paper cutter and pre-cut those or do you have the students cut those out in class?

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    Replies
    1. Of course, I just hope to be able to help! It's the teacher in me that feels the need to explain things in a super detailed way to make everything crystal clear and easy to follow.

      For the half sheets it really depends on the kids and my plan for the day. If I'm feeling ambitious in the morning or if I have a lot to get done during the period I will use the paper cutter at school. Otherwise I would just hand out one for each pair (they sit at tables to it's easy) and one kid cuts it apart and gives the other one their half.

      Sometimes I'll even have all my periods do the cutting on their own but if I know one class can't handle it I'll cut just theirs to save time and hassle.

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  7. Hi Sarah
    Is there any chance I could get the third page of this with the learning suggestions on it.
    Thanks
    Vicki

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  8. Hey Sarah-- Is there any way you could email me this document? I don't have a subscription to Scribd, and I teach at a private school, so I don't get any $ to spend from my school for my classroom. I would LOVE to do this activity with my 7th graders next week. I think it would help them immensely!

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    Replies
    1. Try the link again, you should be able get it for free now. I am in the process of moving all my downloads from scribd to box so that they are free to download.

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    2. thank you SO much! I really appreciate it!

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  9. Sarah,

    Do you know the fonts you used for the survey? I want to make my own learning suggestions page to match your survey. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. I'm sorry but unfortunately I don't :( I've had it around for so long that the original word document has been lost somewhere and all I have is the pdf. Sorry!

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    2. It may be too late, but I found the font! The one I used for the heading/titles is called Appetite

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    3. It's not too late! Thanks for looking. :)

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    4. Ok forget it, I just retyped the whole thing. Here's a link if anyone is interested: https://app.box.com/s/gzno1nksz03h2jgsft1z

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  10. I love the learning styles survey. I made some adaptations to it and posted in my blog.
    www.equationfreak.blogspot.com
    Thanks so much Sarah. You helped me so much when I started my INB's.

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  11. Thank you for posting and sharing. I've been giving my students Sketchbook/Journals for years. Typically I don't have problems, but the last few years I am finding that I have to hold my HS students extra accountable. The way that you've been inspired has inturn inspired me. I appreciate when we as colleagues can share what works and try new things that they may work for us as well.

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  12. u r an absolute ISN guru!!
    thank u...
    going to be using ur ISN technique in my high school classes...

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  13. Sarah, this last year was my first year using Interactive Notebooks in my science classroom. As I am now beginning to plan for the upcoming year, I thought I'd let you know how incredibly successful my ISN experience was and it's all because of your tips! Thank you SO much for sharing your journey with ISN's.

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  14. Hi! I discovered your blog last year when I was student teaching (second career after having kids!) and I LOVE it! I am planning to use ISN's for my classes this year and I will be referencing your blog a LOT! I am hoping to use your learning styles and multiple intelligences pages in the first week of my class, but I am unable to download the pages, as I think many other bloggers have experienced. If you are able to upload them again, I would greatly appreciate it! I'm sure your school is starting too and you are overwhelmed by all the work, but I thought I would try! Thank you!

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  15. Hello! I have used your surveys for classes in the past and am interested in using these again this year, but cannot download the files. Is there a way you can email them to me at all? I know we are all super busy, but if you took a moment, I would greatly appreciate it! len4990@gmail.com THANKS!

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  16. Your techniques to learn new things are very effective. Thanks for sharing it.

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  17. Thank-you for putting everything together in an organized way. You've helped me figure out how to start the process and have encouraged & motivated me to do so with your awesome materials!!!

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