Differentiating Content, Process and Products for the Kinesthetic Learner

Do you teach for kinesthetic memory? Do I provide many hands on activities? Is movement something my body needs in the classroom? Am I easily distracted by noise? Do I often give affirming touches? Do I usually have my students working on projects? Am I comfortable providing frequent breaks and allowing movement? Do I speak slowly? Do I remember more easily feelings and actions as opposed to names and places?

Pre-assessment and the Kinesthetic Learner Charades Mind Maps Play dough representations Role-Play

Differentiation Design for Learners with Strong Kinesthetic Memory Sameness is not always fairness For doodlers – Mind mapping – Story mapping – Webbing – Drawing

Differentiation Design for Learners with Strong Kinesthetic Memory Hands-on – Math manipulatives – Building – Dioramas – Clay – Role-play – Playing cards with information

Differentiation Design for Learners with Strong Kinesthetic Memory Whole Body – Role-playing – Body mapping – Walking through an essay – Floor calculator – Corner/Signs – Engage all senses – Mnemonic devices with body movement – Following along with fingers while reading – Tracing letters and works – Learning centers

DI for Kinesthetic Memory/Episodic Exploration and interactive field trips Pull down maps and pictures Globes Specific seating Action figures for role play Using colored signs to represent concepts touchables

DI for Kinesthetic Memory/Conditioned Response Create songs and/or music Create raps with movement Play games that require rapid answers Use flash cards Do computer drills Use metaphors with movement High fives for correct answers Create cheers with posters

DI for Kinesthetic Memory/Emotional System Acting out stores with strong emotional implications Debate Dance Role-play Modeling your enthusiasm Charades Being part of a team

Students with strong kinesthetic preferences know that they are well-coordinated, have athletic ability, and generally reinforce their learning through a sense of touch – Drama – Dance – Building a model – Sculpting – Performing an experiment – Gymnastics – Computer presentations – Diorama – Pantomime

Blooms Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

Knowledge How would you demonstrate Match the information on the cards to… Select the appropriate tools… On the computer, define…

Comprehension Using the medium, illustrate… Show through a model… Translate these words into movement… With some classmates, crate a human illustration of…

Application Make us of the…in your own application of… Experiment with the …(plan, formula, idea). Through trial and error, solve… Model the appropriate…

Analysis Create a model comparing and contrasting… Perform a skit in which you show the relationships… Re-create the theme through a dance… Categorize the feelings (facts, ideas) found on the cards before you

Synthesis Build a model to solve… Imagine and design a structure… Invent a…to solve…

Evaluation Measure compare, and interpret your findings… Prove or disprove…through any means… Demonstrate your evaluation of… Justify your support of…through a model.

Stuffed pets in the classroom Students calm down by stroking the critters. When students had the critters, they disrupted other students less frequently. Students who wee not kinesthetic but were having a bad day were soothing by holding the critters. Unlike clicking pens, banging fists, tapping rules, and opening and closing books, the critters made no noise, so those sensitive to sound were not distracted.

Stuffed pets in the classroom Students felt a bonding with the teacher because they could have their own “pets.” Many high school teacher adopted this strategy. They were not surprised to find that teenagers also like to hold the critters, particularly when their emotional roller coasters are out of control. Students who were allowed to “adopt a critter, which included signing papers and naming it, were more attached and more soothed by them.

Different strokes 1.Outside kinesthetic activities 2.Rug Rats 3.Learning is in the bag 4.Pushing the right buttons 5.Knowing their place 6.Exercise