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Preparing Your Child For A Student-Centric Learning Environment

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Children or student-centric learning environments place the needs and abilities of your child at the forefront of their learning experience. It is quickly becoming a popular teaching method, but for many children in a traditional learning environment, it can be hard to transition. However, you can help prepare them.

Gauge Their Learning Style

People and children learn in one of three different methods: looking, listening, and doing. The differences between these learning styles are obvious: children that learn by looking at graphs, charts, and diagrams; listeners do well with verbal instructions; and doers need to figure something out with their own mind and hands.

In a traditional teaching environment, it's hard for children with different learning styles to succeed. However, student-centric learning focuses the learning experience on their own learning techniques. Test them by presenting them with a new task, such as assembling a model.

Do they ask you to explain how to build it to them? Or do they read the instructions? Perhaps they just start fitting things together and hope for the best? The first example indicates a listener, the second a looker, and the third a doer.

Get Them Thinking At Home

Now that you and your child understand how best they learn, you need to get them using their critical thinking skills. These skills are often focused on in student-centric learning experiences and it's hard for students from traditional learning environments to adapt. It's relatively easy to help foster these skills early.

For example, when they're still in elementary school, you could ask them the schoolyard favorite: who would win in a fight: Batman or Superman? While silly, the child will examine the pros and cons of each superhero and explain them to you in a logical manner. And even if their answer is illogical and funny, these exercise is still challenging their thinking.

As they get older, start asking them more difficult questions. What would have happened if America lost the Revolutionary War? Which president was the best? Who is your favorite teacher? These questions will get your child thinking in a critical manner.

Be An Example Of Self-Honesty

Often, a child in a student-centric learning environment needs to self-evaluate their progress. As a result, personal honesty is an absolute requirement. This particular trait won't come easily for some children: many will still labor under either extreme positive view points ("I am a princess") or very negative view points ("I am worthless").

You can help set an example of self-honesty by sitting down with your child and making a list of the things you like about yourself and the things you don't like. Your child will then make a similar list of their own traits. Being very honest in your personal critique is necessary, as it will help them open up.

With this simple process, you can get your child on the road to success in a student-centric learning environment. It will help open their mind to their own potential and give them the leg-up they need to succeed. Click here for more information


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