When Kids Have Structure for Thinking, Better Learning Emerges

Good morning!

Today we are sharing another article from http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift entitled 'When Kids Have Structure for Thinking, Better Learning Emerges.' This article talks about how when kids are provided with the correct structure enabling them to learn how they are learning (or not learning/comprehending), it teaches them the essential skills and understanding they need to become life-long learners.

"Helping students to “learn how to learn” or in Ritchhart’s terminology, become “meta-strategic thinkers” is crucial for understanding and becoming a life-long learner. To discover how aware students are of their thinking at different ages, Ritchhart has been working with schools to build “cultures of thinking.” His theory is that if educators can make thinking more visible, and help students develop routines around thinking, then their thinking about everything will deepen." To view the entire article visit: http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2016/03/31/when-kids-have-structure-for-thinking-better-learning-emerges/

Here at Linder Educational Coaching we work with students of all ages to provide them with the skills they need to be able to recognize their own learning patterns and help them achieve greater awareness of their thinking.

"Research shows that when fourth graders are asked to develop a concept map about thinking, most of their brainstorming centers around what they think and where they think it. “When students don’t have strategies about thinking, that’s how they respond – what they think and where they think,” Richhart said. Many fifth graders start to include broad categories of thinking on their concept maps like “problem solving” or “understanding.” Those things are associated with thinking, but fifth graders often haven’t quite hit on the process of thinking.

By sixth grade a few students are starting to include some strategies for thinking in their maps, such as “concentrate” or “don’t get caught up in things that aren’t relevant.” But by ninth grade many students include specific strategies for thinking on their concept maps, including “making connections,” “comparing” and “breaking things down.”

If you are looking to help your child become a better learner and enable them to recognize their distinct patterns of learning, contact us today! Very rarely do teachers in school have the time or ability to focus on one student and understand the struggles and problems with that student’s learning method. Sadly, there is no required class in study skills for school and, even if there was, there is no system that works for everyone. Each person learns differently and needs to find a way to use his/her natural abilities in school.

With private coaching here at Linder, we work with students intensively, at least a few hours a week at first, to analyze what their current strategies are and how we can improve on them. Visit http://www.lindereducationalcoaching.com/programs/ to learn more about our services and our private coaching!