Working with
styles
By Dr. Kathie F. Nunley
A common concern among teachers is: Are we doing a disservice
to students by allowing them to work exclusively in their
learning style? If the student is allowed to complete all
assignments in their own style, it probably is denying them
some growth.
Obviously the real world doesn't always accommodate learning
styles. Job sites often require a great deal of flexibility
in performance and problem solving. Students need to challenge
themselves and increase their comfort in a variety of learning
styles. Teachers want to offer a
variety of learning styles in class assignments, but the real
trick is knowing when to match and when to mis-match learning
styles.
Matching a student's style of learning is particularly important
in the beginning of the year, especially when working with
students who have experienced little success in school, students
who are struggling with concepts or students who have developed
years of learned helplessness. Matching the learning style
of the student to the assignment is a marvelous way to get
students engaged and allow them to experience success.
However, once a student sees that he or she can have a successful
learning experience, the teacher should try to encourage the
student to work in a wide range of learning styles, even those
out of the student's comfort zone. This is known as mis-matching
learning styles. The easiest way to do this is through a wide
variety of assignment choice offerings, as in Layered Curriculum™.
Students can pick their way through the menu of assignments
picking and choosing their way to a grade. There should be
several choices in each type of learning style, but not enough
to allow the student to complete the unit using only their
preferred style. This engages the student right off, by allowing
them to work and experience success, but at the same time,
forces them to branch out in other directions as they complete
the unit.
Kathie F. Nunley is an
educational psychologist, author, researcher and speaker living in
southern New Hampshire. Developer of the Layered Curriculum method
of instruction, Dr. Nunley has authored several books and articles on
teaching in mixed-ability classrooms and other problems facing today's
teachers. Full references and additional teaching and parental tips are available at: http://Help4Teachers.com. Email her at: Kathie (at) brains.org
