We All Like to Learn Differently!

This book was created by:

Mrs. Osborne’s Class

Dear Parents:

I believe that each student is an individual. Your children entered Kindergarten with different skills and interests, different preferences for how they like to learn, and at different readiness and developmental levels. This is a challenge that I would like to meet - to find out how each student learns best! I will use the surveys you completed, observations of how the children work in the classroom with a variety of assessment strategies, to find out how to teach your children throughout the year in a manner that will make them lifelong learners. I will be using a Differentiated Instructional approach.

My first step in this approach is our Learning/Interest Centers. These 8 centers are based on Howard Gardner’s 8 Intelligences and are captured in this book by your children. Gardner believed children had multiple intelligences (abilities) and that students perform best when using one of their innate strengths. “It is not ‘how’ smart you are, but how you are smart.” -Howard Gardner

*These Centers also support the 4 learning modalities that we use to take in new information and process it - the Visual learner (2), the Auditory learner (6), the Kinesthetic learner (7), and the Tactile learner (all). Each child tends to learn in one of these ways.

Enjoy your book! Let your children tell you about making it, and how they work in each of the centers. As always, call if you have any questions. 703-491-3832

Nanci Osborne - Please go to my wikispace!

1 Verbal/Linguistic 2 *Visual/Spatial 3 Logical/Mathematical 4 Intrapersonal

5 Interpersonal 6 *Musical/Rhythmic 7 *Bodily/Kinesthetic 8 Naturalist

wikikinder.wikispaces.com

Communication Center

We like to read, talk, write, retell stories, talk, make-up stories, learn new words, talk, play word games, tell and hear riddles, and talk.

Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence

Art Center

We like to draw pictures, make graphic organizers, take things apart, copy models of projects, work with clay, build and make 3-D models.

Visual/Spatial Intelligence

Problem Solving Center

We like to make and find patterns, sort items by different attributes, put together puzzles, play strategy games, make and read charts.

Logical/Mathematical Intelligence

By Myself Center

We like to learn by ourselves with computers, Leapsters, folder games, manipulatives that don’t have to be shared, and use clipboards in separate chairs to do our work.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

Together Center

We like to work with other people, do floor puzzles, play cooperative games, “buddy” read and write, build a town or make crafts together.

Interpersonal Intelligence

Listening Center

We like to hear poetry, sing songs, listen to books or songs on tape, clap our names, work with rhyming words, play musical instruments, and dance.

Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence

Drama Center

We like to act out stories, dress-up, role play, use big blocks and cars, walk on a balance beam, and move while learning letters or words.

Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence

Nature Center

We like to learn about nature and the world in a natural setting, try experiments, read non-fiction books, use binoculars, take a close look at gadgets and critters.

Naturalist Intelligence

As Learning Centers?

Research has shown that learning improves when students have a choice of tasks and resources. Differentiating the process of learning in these various centers will be done through readiness levels and/or learning preferences. While we are learning an appropriate skill or concept, the students will be able to pick an area (center) to work in. Sometimes the students will choose 3 center’s activity to do - more about this will follow.

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As Interest Centers?

The students will use many of these activities as free-choice activities while learning essential skills and information. Kid-friendly practice makes skills permanent. If an array of materials and games are provided, the students will naturally differentiate. If they have an interest in bugs, they may visit the Nature center to observe bugs, or the Art center to make a 3D bug. These center activities will also be reintroduced to practice specific standards.

Happy Learning!

Our class loves to learn in many different ways. Some days we like one way of learning, some days another! That’s why sometimes we have a choice of where we can go to explore or do our work.