Children are natural learners --- from their first moments of life they are constantly observing and drawing conclusions about the world from their environment and their experiences. When they begin formal schooling, they are required to learn specific information in a more organized and purposeful way. Teachers and parents can use a variety of strategies to help children absorb and retain the information and skills presented at school.
Environmental Effects on Learning
The classroom environment can have a dramatic effect on how children learn new skills and information. An orderly, well-lit classroom minimizes distractions that can interfere with a child's ability to process new information. Distinct interest areas encourage children to explore new topics independently before and after the teacher presents those topics. A well-designed classroom sends the message to students that the work to be done there is important, and that the teacher cares about the space, the material and the students.
Learning Styles
Most children have a preference for learning in one way over another. A visually oriented child learns best when she can see the information, while an auditory learner is most comfortable when he is given oral instructions. Kinesthetic learners prefer hands-on learning that allows them to represent and manipulate in a physical way. While no teacher can cater to every child's individual learning preferences all the time, using a child's preferred learning style to present difficult or remedial material can be very effective.
Cross-Curricular Links
Often, when a student struggles with a topic in one subject area, she will grasp it more easily when she encounters it in another subject area. For example, a student who struggles with geometry or trigonometry in math may more easily understand those concepts when she encounters them again in physics. Similarly, a child who struggles with memorizing historical facts might remember them more easily when they are presented in historical literary fiction.
Special Needs
Children with sensory-integration, fine or gross motor deficiencies, or other special needs often need additional considerations in the classroom. For a child with sensitivity to sound, for example, a pair of sound-muffling headphones are a great learning tool. They allow the child to block out potentially overwhelming classroom noises to concentrate on the task or material at hand. Children with fine motor deficiencies may struggle with writing, and need some other way to take notes and complete classwork.
Family Support For Learning
Parental support is one of the strongest predictors of academic success for children. When parents are involved in their children's education, whether teaching or reinforcing academic material at home, volunteering in the classroom, or simply encouraging and praising their children's academic efforts, children have an easier time learning.
