Monday, August 21, 2017

Making Learning Child-Centered - Series 1, Topic 1

As the school year begins for most kids, the topic of ADHD and specialized intervention plans for those with learning disabilities will be a hot topic.  Over the next six weeks, we will be releasing some great content on how we can help create effective learning environments for these children both in the academic and martial art classroom.  We will also be identifying ways that KMA helps to integrate these concepts into our everyday delivery of service.
TOPIC 1 – WEEK ONE

Reference:  Meeting the Needs of Students With ADHD

Steps you can take to foster greater productivity, order, and calm for these learners.
January 22, 2015

Making Learning Child-Centered
Child- or student-centered learning presumes that students who are drivers of their own learning will be more invested and motivated. It’s a tenet of the constructivist learning theory first proposed by Jean Piaget, and it considers the learning styles, preferences, and interests of the student. It encourages incidental learning.
It’s also a way to accommodate a child with ADHD. The teacher maps out goals and resources, and assumes a facilitator role. Students work in small groups, with a partner, or independently. Gaming, MOOCs, hands-on activities, small-group activities, webquests, and mini-lessons can all be integrated as resources.
The KMA Difference
Here are a few ways that our approach to teaching helps to achieve the goals of Child-Centered Learning:
·         Focus Boards
·         Class Plans
·         Utilizing Touch
·         Focus Anchors
·         Success Passports / Videos
·         Stripe Testing

Focus Boards are setup prior to traditional martial art classes to give students a Map of their learning focuses.  This helps to set expectations, provide structure, and a resource for training.  Students can match up the colors and topics from the focus board on the wall with the success passport in order to tie the knot between their classroom training and home practice.
Daily class plans blend independent, group, and partner activities.  This diversity keeps the students engaged while exposing them to various stimulus.
Instructors utilize physical targets to provide students with kinesthetic learning opportunities.  Additionally, instructors use "appropriate touch" to move students' bodies into position and help them "feel" how to perform techniques correctly.
Instructor utilize Focus Anchors to help bring distracted or over-active groups or individuals back to a state of concentration.  Phrases like, "Eyes on Who…Eyes on You Sir", "Who Are We, Moo Sah Sir", "Focus Clap 1, 2, 3….", "Focus Your Mind, Focus Your Eyes, Focus Your Body", etc. are all methods of gaining the attention of students and helping them to transition from high energy activities back to a state of listening and attentiveness.  Cones and other physical targets are used to help students maintain order and structure while performing line drills, relays, and other group activities.  Additionally, instructors use the student's name regularly throughout the class in order to capture their attention and reinforce good eye contact.
Success Passports and videos are used to help enhance the learning experience by providing tangible materials for students to use, see, and work with outside of the school.  This helps build retention and allows for independent learning.
Stripe Testing is used to provide students with "SMART" goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time Oriented".  This allows students to focus their learning on smaller pieces of information at one time in order to make retention more conducive to their learning style.

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Visit:  6015 S Sunbury Rd, Westerville, 43081

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