Motivational Whisperers

Parents and teachers: Do you have a Whole Body Learner in your life?

Whole Body Learners need to use their whole bodies in order to learn.

That means movement, but movement in a learning situation is usually interpreted as disruptive or disobedient rather than intelligent. So it can take some doing for parents and teachers to change their minds about the importance of movement for these learners. Often these kids are labeled hyperactive or ADD.

The ideal learning situation for these students includes “doing” as much as possible: going on field trips, acting out lessons, presenting demonstrations, walking around while listening or thinking. These learners need to “feel” the learning taking place in their bodies. So, instead of reading or listening to a lesson about bridges, they need to build bridges...or make a model of the pyramids, or plant an actual garden, or design a city, or set up a store to learn about money...In other words, they learn by doing.

In the Classroom

Teachers can encourage these learners by suggesting these types of assignments: make a movie, do a presentation, put on a play, present the lesson through dance, build or make something. Be aware that these learners need to get up and stretch often, especially if they are required to sit at a desk doing book work: a few exercises or a walk around the room can do wonders (why do you think some kids “need” to sharpen their pencils so often?!).

These learners can also be encouraged to use whole body movements to learn new concepts or skills. Examples: learning to tell time by using their arms as hands of the clock; walking a number line to learn the concepts of adding and subtracting; walking on large maps to learn geography. And this isn’t just for preschool or kindergarten, but for college students as well!

Homework

Encourage Whole Body Learners to take frequent breaks when doing book work. As often as possible, coach them to learn through movement. For example, if they are memorizing facts they can try bouncing a ball while saying “Columbus discovered America,” or throw a bean bag back and forth while reviewing with someone, or jump-rope or jump on the trampoline while reciting a lesson or poem. These movement activities also work for listening: e.g. jump-rope while listening to a book on tape.

By the way, the more these kinds of activities are incorporated in the learning, the fewer “breaks” will need to be taken. The movement is what’s needed so if these students are learning through movement, their needs are being met.

Adult Whole Body Learners

Students who are Whole Body Learners grow up to be adults who are Whole Body Learners! If someone teaches them about learning styles and the Whole Body Modality, they will learn how to use this strength in their everyday lives and on the job. But most adults who are Whole Body Learners often have trouble acknowledging this need for themselves, because growing up they learned that it was “wrong” or “bad.”

These are the people who need to work out while they mull things over, or need to wake up in the morning by dancing around, or need to walk when working on the solution to a problem.

People who are Whole Body Learners and are aware of it can use this information to help them find a workplace or career that suits this need. Some obvious careers include actor, dancer, builder, and tour guide.

Recognizing Learning Styles

Whenever you recognize and acknowledge your learning styles you are a step closer to fulfilling your unique mission in the world. Using your strengths and doing what you love fills up your spirit—and that affects your relationships, your finances, and your whole life in wond

erful ways!

If you think you might be a Whole Body Learner, give some thought to how you are using this gift.

If you have a child or student who is a Whole Body Learner, help that child to discern what part this gift will play in fulfilling his or her mission in the world.

©2012 by M.P.Willis, m@mariaemmawillis.com, 805-648-1739

Join our newsletter list and get your free downloadable gift: our ebook, Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten!

For a school option that customizes for each child's learning needs, visit www.solimaracademy.com

You can find out your child's learning style profile now by going to learningstyleprofile.com - special $5.00 off each profile for Motivational Whisperer members, use discount code LSMotWhisp

To find out your styles, go to personalsuccessprofile.com - use discount code PSMotWhisp for $5.00 off.

The profile is also in our book, Discover Your Child’s Learning Style – it is available in any bookstore or online. Go to www.discoveryourchildslearningstyle.com

Recently I attended a presentation about gardening by Oscar Carmona of Healing Grounds Nursery. So what does gardening have to do with learning and school?

Here is the one thing he said that I can't get out of my head:

If a plant becomes diseased or is infested with pests, your first question should NOT be, what kind of pesticide should I use? Your first question should be, is this environment appropriate for this plant?

Wow - that is so simple and yet so profound!

Immediately, my thoughts went to education. What happens when a student is struggling in school? Normally, the first questions that are asked have to do with getting the student to fit in. Unfortunately, that often means, what medication should we use?

Instead, the first question ought to be, is this environment appropriate for this student? And if it is not appropriate, then please, let's not medicate to force the student to adapt!

Every person, every child learns in different ways. We need to begin acknowledging and honoring each student's strengths and focus on those. In order to be successful in sports, coaches capitalize on a star player's strengths. What they DON'T do is force that player to spend hundreds of hours trying to build up a weakness.

But in the traditional school system, students are told they need to work on their weaknesses and bring these up to at least average. What a waste of time!

The secret lies in focusing on strengths - then watch the magic happen.

If you know a student who is struggling with school, I hope you will take Oscar's advice and make this your first question: Is this program appropriate for this student?

And, if it isn't, search for an alternative that will bring success to that child.

©2011 by M.P.Willis, m@learningsuccesscoach.com, 805-648-1739

Join our newsletter list and get your free downloadable gift: our ebook, Midlife Crisis Begins in Kindergarten!

For a school option that customizes for each child's learning needs, visit www.solimaracademy.com 

You can find out your child's learning style profile now by going to learningstyleprofile.com - special $5.00 off each profile for Motivational Whisperer members, use discount code LSMotWhisp

To find out your styles, go to personalsuccessprofile.com - use discount code PSMotWhisp for $5.00 off.

The profile is also in our book, Discover Your Child’s Learning Style – it is available in any bookstore or online. Go to www.discoveryourchildslearningstyle.com

Well, that’s what is happening to hundreds of thousands of school children every day. And those in private schools or homeschooling programs are not automatically better off. As long as children are forced to use a traditional textbook/workbook curriculum without any concern for their learning styles, they might as well be wearing shoes that are too tight, or so loose that they trip over them.

An education that doesn’t fit is as painful, or perhaps even more painful, than ill-fitting shoes—after all, an ill-fitting education can scar a child for life.

Some readers might think I’m going off the deep end here. After all, the traditional school system has been in place for a pretty long time, and most people come through it just fine, don’t they?

Do they? Did you know that most adults are held back from what they could be doing or would love to do because of their school experiences? Did you know that being labeled slow, lazy, learning disabled, dyslexic, ADD, or even average or gifted stays with you forever, and affects what you believe about yourself and your abilities? Did you know that people in their forties, fifties and sixties, no matter what they’ve accomplished, are still controlled by messages they received in school?

I’m thinking of a woman who didn’t think she could advance in her business because when she was in school she got the message that she wasn’t very capable. What was the problem in school? She kept tapping her foot and wiggling in her chair because she is kinesthetic and needs to move to learn. Another adult comes to mind who spent years in a career she disliked because she didn’t think she was smart enough to do what she really wanted to do—teach. Others are held back because they are not great spellers or reading is not a strength or memorizing is difficult for them. So what? These things really have nothing to do with success!

The most powerful determiner of success is the belief that you are capable and can succeed. Yet, for thirteen of the most formative years of our children’s lives we emphasize mistakes, failures, and a narrow definition of what it means to be “smart.” These children grow up to be adults who settle for less.

Studies done several years ago revealed that 95% of kindergartners feel good about themselves and are eager to learn, and fewer than 2% of seniors in high school feel good about themselves. Pedro Garcia, then superintendent of the Corona-Norco Unified School District, commented on these results: “What happens to children between the ages of 5 and 18 that they lose that creative, inquisitive spirit...Children need to feel safe...We need to create a safe home and a safe classroom for them...Children need to be frequently validated, encouraged, supported...They need to know they have talents and abilities they have not yet discovered. Above all, they need to know they can be successful...”

Far too many pay a very high price in our one-size-fits-all education and testing system. Yet there is a very simple answer and the powers to be are not listening. Children learn differently—what works for some does not work for others. This is not rocket science! How long will it be before educators recognize this simple truth and act on it?

As long as we force all kids to start reading at 4 or 5 years old, force everyone to use textbooks and workbooks, and force all students to learn and be tested in the same way, No Child Left Behind will never come to be. Many, many children will continue to be left behind, along with countless adults who are not able to reverse the damage done to them as students.

What are the alternatives?

• Respect developmental timetables—realize that kids are ready for concepts at different ages, not when the State says they must be!

• Provide various ways for kids to learn and do assignments, such as games, books on tape, art supplies, building activities, scrapbooks, experiments, demonstrations, etc.

• Instead of using destructive labels, look at learning styles...for example, Picture and Hands-on learners are often labeled dyslexic, Inventing and/or Thinking/Creating learners most often end up being labeled ADD.

Impossible, you say, with a roomful of students? Not impossible at all. The best teachers have figured out how to do it even with all the constraints put on them. And for homeschoolers, customizing to a child’s learning style is a snap!

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, a grandparent, or a friend - if your goal is learning success for EVERY child, you can do it. You can be a Success Coach for the children in your life!

For a school option that customizes for each child's learning needs, visit www.solimaracademy.com

©2009-2011 by M.P.Willis, m@mariaemmawillis.com, 805-648-1739