There’s a sticky and pervasive fallacy about education that permeates classrooms across North America and ensnares parents and teachers alike. The premise? That each child has a personal learning style that can be described as kinesthetic, visual or auditory, and that all information must be delivered by teachers in a manner that reflects that style in order to help a child learn effectively. The problem with that approach to pedagogy is that there is no evidence to support it.
While it’s true that students prefer to get their information in different ways—some enjoy lectures; others enjoy videos, games or reading—brain science and testing show that all students learn in the same way. That is not to deny that students have differing needs, aptitudes, backgrounds, and interests that impact their learning, or that some students have disabilities that require special diagnosis and attention. Every child has a unique set of challenges and talents. However, those students who receive instruction tailored to an identified “learning style” will not score higher on achievement tests or do better in school.
So how do students actually learn best? Current research shows that children absorb content when the information is presented to them in multiple forms, in consideration of their abilities, and through engaging methods and tasks. Students who practice and apply what they learn and can teach it to others retain that information more effectively. Educators and parents should focus on introducing novelty, variety and information targeted to each child’s skill level to make the classroom experience more productive for everyone.
Resources:
Paul, Annie Murphy. “Do Students Really Have Different Learning Styles?” KQED Blog. 13 April 2012
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/04/do-students-have-different-learning-styles/
Riener, Carl and Willingham, Daniel. “The Myth of Learning Styles.” Change Magazine. September-October 2010.
Willingham, Daniel. “Learning styles, science, practice and Disneyland.” danielwillingham.com. 28 August 2013
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by LDAYR and Evoke Learning
A 2013 Toronto District School Board (TDSB) survey identified that 73 per cent of high school students and nearly 60 per cent of students in Grades 7 and 8 are worried about their future. In addition, 66 per cent of high school students and 40 per cent of students in Grades 7 and 8 said they were under a lot of stress “often or sometimes.” One in three high school students said they feel like crying. These survey results are not considered unique.
The impact of stress on today’s learners is well documented.
Research is also drawing a clear link between mindfulness meditation, enhanced learning, and lowered stress. By cultivating mindfulness, students are better able to reduce both stress and error through the development of attentional skills, awareness, and decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may be incorporated into various educational and mental health care settings to increase social-emotional intelligence and levels of concentration in all learners, while raising their overall level of well-being.
In this workshop, participants will survey a variety of contemporary and evidence-based applications of mindfulness meditation in the education system. This interactive workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn and practice various mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) that may be integrated into the implicit or explicit curriculum to create healthier classrooms and teachers. Participants will explore the tenets of Holistic Education using gentle movement, breath awareness practices and meditations. We will discuss how to incorporate mindfulness into various settings using a secular approach that can be utilized with individuals and/or groups.
In addition, the workshop will address how mindfulness techniques can be utilized with special needs populations and students with specific mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety and a history of trauma.
About the Speaker — Sarah Kinsley BA (Hons.), BEd, MEd Counseling Psychology
Sarah Kinsley is the coordinator of the Embodied Mind stream of the Applied Mindfulness Meditation program in Continuing Education at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She has been a Primary school teacher, and a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) in Ontario and abroad. Most recently she served at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) as a Child and Family therapist.
In addition, Sarah works as a facilitator and therapist at The Mindfulness Clinic, The Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Outward Bound Canada and Mindfulness Without Borders, where she utilizes her training in Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) including extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Sarah teaches classes, workshops and retreats in Canada and abroad, aiming to make each experience unique and accessible to all learners.
Date:
November 26, 2014
Time:
4:30pm — 6:30pm
Location:
York Catholic District School Board Office
320 Bloomington Road West
Aurora, ON L4G 0M1
Cost:
$50 LDAYR members
$65 Non-LDAYR members
Workshop fees are transferable, but non-refundable.
How to Register:
905-884-7933 x 23 [email protected]
www.ldayr.org
www.evokelearning.ca
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by LDAYR and Evoke Learning
While parenthood brings immense amounts of joy, pride, personal growth and other good things to those with children, it can also bring a lot of challenges. Researchers are beginning to find that these challenges can take a toll; parents have significantly higher levels of depression than adults who do not have children.
A recent study from Mt. Sinai hospital in New York highlighted that the greatest source of childhood and adolescent stress is not school work, extracurricular activities, or peer pressure, but parental stress.
Recent research has also demonstrated the positive impact that mindfulness-based techniques can have on the ability to enhance parental/caregiver presence. This in turn increases attunement between the parent/caregiver and the child, by reducing stress and reactivity in both.
This workshop will provide an introduction to the foundations of mindfulness and look at the effects of mindfulness based practices on emotional regulation and stress reduction, which has been shown to create healthier relationships between family members.
This experiential workshop will teach parents and caregivers the art of being fully present with children. Mindfulness-based techniques will be shared and experienced to help parents improve their emotional regulation skills. These techniques allow parents to step out of reactive patterns and move into a place of skillful responses that can enhance the child/parent relationship during unplanned and stressful moments.
Active listening skills will be reviewed highlighting the importance of learning how to place our attention fully on the child. As parents and caregivers we can learn to respond (versus react) with empathy and compassion. In turn, our children can learn to respond with the same traits, which are the keystones of a mindful life.
About the Speaker — Sarah Kinsley BA (Hons.), BEd, MEd Counseling Psychology
Sarah Kinsley is the coordinator of the Embodied Mind stream of the Applied Mindfulness Meditation program in Continuing Education at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She has been a Primary school teacher, and a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) in Ontario and abroad. Most recently she served at Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) as a Child and Family therapist.
In addition, Sarah works as a facilitator and therapist at The Mindfulness Clinic, The Centre for Mindfulness Studies, Outward Bound Canada and Mindfulness Without Borders, where she utilizes her training in Mindful-ness-based interventions (MBIs) including extensive training in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT).
Sarah teaches classes, workshops and retreats in Canada and abroad, aiming to make each experience unique and accessible to all learners.
Date:
November 26, 2014
Time:
7:00pm — 9:00pm
Location:
York Catholic District School Board Office
320 Bloomington Road West
Aurora, ON L4G 0M1
Cost:
$50 LDAYR members
$65 Non-LDAYR members
Workshop fees are transferable, but non-refundable.
How to Register:
905-884-7933 x 23
[email protected]
www.ldayr.org
')}
by LDAYR and Evoke Learning
This workshop is for students in grades 5-8.
The practice of intentional, nonjudgmental awareness of moment-to-moment experience has been around since ancient times in both the East and West. Now science is confirming these benefits; mindfulness practice is good for your health. Mindfulness meditation can develop concentration, strengthen attention, reduce anxiety and stress, increase information processing speed and enhance empathy and compassion.
Many students experience significant stress and anxiety throughout their academic careers. This can affect learning, memory and self-esteem. Just like adults, children and youth need to unwind, refocus and learn to manage stress and anxiety.
This academic year, LDAYR and Evoke Learning have teamed up to offer MINDFUL PA DAYS. Students can join us on their PA Days for some exercises in mindfulness, open discussion, light yoga, outdoor mindfulness walking, and afternoon traditional tea. During the retreat, students will learn:
- all about the practice of mindfulness meditation and its benefits
- the science behind stress and how to manage it
- how to increase their own self-regulation, attention, and self-awareness
- how to begin their own mindfulness practice
Students are required to bring a yoga mat and a bottle of water. Snacks will be provided. In the afternoon we will enjoy a traditional afternoon tea.
Date:
Monday, October 27, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Friday, January 16, 2015
Monday, February 2, 2015
Time:
9am — 2pm
Location:
11181 Yonge St. Richmond Hill, ON L4S 1L2
Room: B13 (Basement)
Cost:
$75/day LDAYR members
$85/day Non-LDAYR members
Workshop fees are transferable, but non-refundable. Fee includes snacks and afternoon traditional tea.
How to Register:
Call: 905-884-7933 x 23
Email: [email protected]
Visit: www.ldayr.org
Visit: www.evokelearning.ca
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