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There's a large body of research evidence showing
that no matter what a child's individual style or learning stage, the
following are true:
- Active learning is best. While reading
and listening play a role in learning, there's overwhelming evidence
that lasting learning and retention of information require that children
interact with materials and ideas. An effective parent or teacher
is one who involves students in learning by doing; working in groups,
if possible; discussing; writing; and reflecting, in addition to reading
and listening.
- Understanding goes beyond vocabulary.
Facts and formulas are important in math and science. However, true
understanding involves a much deeper approach to learning about concepts.
Learning concepts takes longer than rote memorization. Effective parents
and teachers seek to present topics in greater depth in order to deepen
a child's understanding.
- There are recognized phases of learning.
Children need chances to explore phenomena and ideas, receive
information, apply what they've learned to new situations, and investigate
their own questions. Effective parents and teachers know how to sequence
these types of activities so that children learn best.
- Children of different ages have different
needs. Younger children need lots of free exploration and experiential
learning opportunities. Older children are more capable of abstract
thinking and of applying what they've learned to more complex situations,
but research shows that they still need direct interaction with materials.
Effective parents and teachers know how to provide children of different
ages with the experiences they need.
- A balanced diet is healthiest! There's
a diverse menu of learning experiences availablehands-on experiments,
reading an article, listening to a parent talk about science in his
or her career, making a model of the solar system, writing a letter
to Bill Gates about a new invention, watching a video, acting out
a chemical process, working together on group presentationsthese are
just a few examples. It's good for children to experience all approaches
to learning. Most educators, like nutritionists, recommend a balanced
diet. An effective parent or teacher provides a balance of different
learning approaches.
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