Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
Whenever
I attended school meetings in my children’s grade school (it is a progressive
school which I will talk about in a future post), the school head always
emphasized that children learn differently. She would ask us how our kids do
their schoolwork at home. Some parents
would say they get exasperated because their children do their homework in
front of the TV or with headphones glued in their ears, or on the floor. My
daughter (Paula, the eldest) did her homework my way when I was a child-on a
study table in a quiet room where she can concentrate, so I thought the school
head would say that my daughter does her homework perfectly and that the other
parents’ kids should ban the TV or the music or get a desk or something.
I attended school meetings in my children’s grade school (it is a progressive
school which I will talk about in a future post), the school head always
emphasized that children learn differently. She would ask us how our kids do
their schoolwork at home. Some parents
would say they get exasperated because their children do their homework in
front of the TV or with headphones glued in their ears, or on the floor. My
daughter (Paula, the eldest) did her homework my way when I was a child-on a
study table in a quiet room where she can concentrate, so I thought the school
head would say that my daughter does her homework perfectly and that the other
parents’ kids should ban the TV or the music or get a desk or something.
When
the School Head told every parent to let them do their homework the way the children want-listen to music, have the TV on, even lie on the floor- as long as they
are able to concentrate and finish their work, we were pleasantly surprised.
the School Head told every parent to let them do their homework the way the children want-listen to music, have the TV on, even lie on the floor- as long as they
are able to concentrate and finish their work, we were pleasantly surprised.
She
would then talk about how children have different learning styles and how the
school addresses those differences.
would then talk about how children have different learning styles and how the
school addresses those differences.
A
month ago, I was able to read “A Parent’s Playbook for Learning” by Jen
Lilienstein which discusses in detail eight types of learners and how we, as
parents, can help our children ultimately understand a lesson or concept presented
by a teacher specifically for just one type of learner.
month ago, I was able to read “A Parent’s Playbook for Learning” by Jen
Lilienstein which discusses in detail eight types of learners and how we, as
parents, can help our children ultimately understand a lesson or concept presented
by a teacher specifically for just one type of learner.
This
book, which won the Pinnacle Award for Best Parenting & Family Book, will
walk you through your child’s personality profile. Through this book, you will learn in what
areas your child is gifted and how you can cultivate their giftedness. You can help
your child soar through subjects they love and breeze through subjects they thought they
detest. You can get a detailed personal
profile of your child at the Kidzmet website for free and would take only 10-20 minutes.
book, which won the Pinnacle Award for Best Parenting & Family Book, will
walk you through your child’s personality profile. Through this book, you will learn in what
areas your child is gifted and how you can cultivate their giftedness. You can help
your child soar through subjects they love and breeze through subjects they thought they
detest. You can get a detailed personal
profile of your child at the Kidzmet website for free and would take only 10-20 minutes.
As
opposed to Paula who is profiled as an ISJ (Introverted Sensing Judger) and Nicole
who is profiled as IFP (Introverted Feeling Perceiver), my seven year old
Adrian is profiled as ENP (Extraverted Intuitive Perceiver). His
personal motto according to his profile is “Don’t Fence Me In” which is quite
different from my “Introverted” girls.
opposed to Paula who is profiled as an ISJ (Introverted Sensing Judger) and Nicole
who is profiled as IFP (Introverted Feeling Perceiver), my seven year old
Adrian is profiled as ENP (Extraverted Intuitive Perceiver). His
personal motto according to his profile is “Don’t Fence Me In” which is quite
different from my “Introverted” girls.
 |
| Adrian at four years old cooking his own fingerpaint |
Kidzmet
was very accurate when it described Adrian as:
was very accurate when it described Adrian as:
- One who
“processes his initial thoughts better by talking them out (thinking aloud)”. Unlike his sisters who can complete their
tasks by doing them on their own, Adrian needs to “talk through” his tasks
first. - One who
“enjoys combining work and play.” I used to find this difficult to reconcile
because I am that sort of person who separates work and play with the thought
that combining the two will bring up a haphazard work. - A Perceiver
who is “energized by the pressure of a deadline” I can so relate to this (which means I am a
perceiver?).
I, as
a parent confronted with three children with three different learning profiles,
sure did struggle to understand how different they were from each other. There were times, I admit, that I tended to
compare them and taught one child the way I did the other child (and ended up frustrated). A lot of times, I helped them with their
school work and insisted on doing the work my way (or their sibling’s way), not
theirs. “A Parent’s Playbook For Learning”
opened my eyes (the way the School Head did) on how my children are unique and
quite different from each other and how I can help them learn the way they are
wired to learn.
a parent confronted with three children with three different learning profiles,
sure did struggle to understand how different they were from each other. There were times, I admit, that I tended to
compare them and taught one child the way I did the other child (and ended up frustrated). A lot of times, I helped them with their
school work and insisted on doing the work my way (or their sibling’s way), not
theirs. “A Parent’s Playbook For Learning”
opened my eyes (the way the School Head did) on how my children are unique and
quite different from each other and how I can help them learn the way they are
wired to learn.
You
can grab A Parent’s Playbook for Learning
at Amazon in Paperback and Kindle
version and of course at Kidzmet.com.
can grab A Parent’s Playbook for Learning
at Amazon in Paperback and Kindle
version and of course at Kidzmet.com.
Good job in choosing a good school for your kids (assuming agad no?), but saying that they do their best to support each child's learning style is really something. Hindi kasi madali pag maraming bata sa class diba?
And more kudos for learning about the differences among your kids. Many parents of old ended up frustrated and many kids ended up thinking they were stupid because we didn't know these things before. Galing.
They are like around ten to fifteen in a class lang sis. Magkasama sa class ang nursery and kinder (there's a term they use for mixing grade levels e) supervised by two teachers. I am sure it is very difficult for the teachers is quite a handful, but I have seen them in action and you will be impressed. And oh, mas impressed ako dun sa science high school which my eldest attended. I went to a school meeting and the principal said "Verbum Sat Sapienti" (Latin for "A word is enough for the Wise") and the hall literally turned silent. Yung mga students tumahimik without the principal having to shout or repeat himself.
That's a really interesting book. Glad that you learn more about your child's learning style by reading it.
This is just in time sis. We are still in search for the best school for Matt. There's no progressive school near our place kasi. We already talked to a Montessori school near our place. The teacher said we must assess daw if Matt is really willing to learn. Do you have any idea how we can assess him? She just mention kasi about focus. Matt naman loves to read and write. He is always willing to learn and in fact when the teacher held his hands to go inside the room he was so happy and willing. He even draw a circle sabi ni teacher. I hope that can be a sign.
I think Montessori is good. You know, the schools have assessment tests naman e. You can notice naman if he is willing to learn, works well in groups, can express himself. Just don't expect your child to suddenly start reading and writing kaagad. Although there are gifted children who can do those (and in so many ways din, like the arts, kaya lang we tend to focus on reading and writing kasi), keep in mind that at this age, children are supposed to be playing and not going through the rigors of academics. Children learn through play and strengthen their senses through play (like kneading playdough for tactile development which they should be doing instead of being forced to write). Pero alam mo, if you see him wanting to go to school, let him. If di ka sure, ask if puwedeng saling pusa muna. Some schools allow that naman…Hayy, so excited to see Matt in his uniform