1. Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Children have many different styles of learning and intelligence. A child is able to learn new skills best by having lessons adapted to his or her unique learning style or intelligence. Detailed lesson plans are important to deliver appropriate practices for children.

2. How Children Learn Children learn best by doing
Children best when using their senses
Children learn best through trial and error
Children learn best when all areas of development are nurtured
Children learn through positive reinforcement and self-motivation
Children acquire and experiment with new behaviors through imitation and role modeling

3. Learning Styles – Characteristics of Different Learning Styles
Visual – Learn by observing and looking at pictures and images
Auditory – Learn by listening and hearing words spoken
- Follow oral directions well
Tactile – Learn by sense of touch
- Enjoy hands-on learning and opportunity to manipulate objects
Kinesthetic – Learn by moving their bodies
- Pairing body movements with music or chants is helpful
- Need frequent breaks while learning a new skill
Social – Learn through teacher and peer-group interaction
- See “big picture” and do not focus on the details
- Thrive in larger groups and enjoying performing
Independent – Learn best in individual and small-group settings
- Focus on the details of new activity
- Can focus for longer periods of time with few distractions

4. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Types of Intelligences
- Children learn better when lessons are geared toward their type of intelligence.
Take the Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence
and see how you learn best
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5. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
Type of Intelligence
Characteristics
Careers
Linguistic
Use language to express thoughts
Writers, speakers, lawyers
Logical-Mathematical
Understanding underlying principles of systems
Use logic to manipulate numbers, quantities, and operations
Scientists, inventors, mathematicians
Spatial
Mentally comprehend spatial relationships
Think in three-dimensional terms
Architects, sailors, pilots, sculptors
Bodily-Kinesthetic
Use the whole body or body parts to solve problems, to make something, or to put on some kind of production
Athletes, dancers, actors
Musical
Think in musical terms
Hear, recognize, remember, and manipulate musical patterns
Composers, singers, musicians, orchestra conductors
Interpersonal
Understand the intentions, desires, and motivations and others
Work well with other people
Teachers, salespeople, public relations specialists, counselors, therapists, politicians
Intrapersonal
Understand personal abilities, strengths, and limitations
Find help or delegate when needed
Business owners, managers of organizations
Naturalistic
See differences among living things such as plants and animals
See features of natural world in terms of patterns, shapes, and colors
Ecologists, biologists, botanists, insect specialists
Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

6. Grouping and Peer Learning
Same-age grouping – same approximate are placed together
Developmental grouping – grouped by developmental abilities
Mixed-age grouping – certain age range are put in the same classroom