How to support all learners

In this blog we will focus on how to support all types of learners in a literacy classroom. Lets start by identifying the three main types of learners.... We have visual, audiotry and kenesthetic learners.

For our visual learners, a good way of getting them to fallow along with the book and comprehend what they are reading is to use pictures along with the sequence of the story. Lets say the class is broken down in small groups and there is a group of visual learners. The teacher gives them the activity of reading the book together, and after every page they use provided pictures to "map out" what is going on in the story. On the first page n the book Henry ate a cookie. The group must identify the activity on page one, select the picture representation and places it first in line. On page two Henry's friend comes over and wants a cookie too, so Henry gives him one and they are enjoying them together. Again, the group summarizes the main point of page two, identifies it with the picture and places it second in line, so on and so forth.... Sequencing and identifying main points are big components of literature. You can eventually incorporate more difficult questions by asking them "when did the problem occur?" and have them answer using their picture sequence.  

Another time of learner is an auditory learner. These learners are great readers because they are able to absorb the material in a simple form, by being read to out loud. Once they hear the material they are processing it in their head and usually do not get "lost" or need visuals because they are fallowing along and perceiving information just by listening. Although, to some this may seem like a very difficult way to learn. There is usually far less auditory learners in a class then any other. These are the students that enjoy and are successful at reading out loud, which is how I would facilitate these types of learners in a small group. They could either take turns reading out loud of fallow along with a book on tape. They can give an auditory description or summary amongst their group at the end of each page.

We will also have kenesthetic learners in our classrooms. These learners perceive best when they put the readings into action and are able to physically experience what they read. These are the students that will be put into small reading groups and their activity will be too summarize the read material by acting it out, processing through the events on each page. You could have each student play the role of each character. This way the students are incorporating the skills of summarizing, applying it to real life (by acting it out) and of course teamwork.