How Do Elementary Children Learn Best?

Working With Elementary School Children

12 November, 2014

When children first work with a tutor, they are excited about something new, so they give their full attention. Then as they come to realize that the tutor represents work, they begin to try and find ways to make things easier on themselves and try to exert control on the session. During this adjustment period I find that it is productive to just maintain consistency and continue to focus on the work at hand.
Children naturally explore and test boundaries. I believe it is important to prevent children from associating negative emotions with learning. Learning is about exploring and developing an understanding of the world around us. Also although a parent can tell a child about the value of a tutor, the child must recognize the value for themselves in order to truly work with that tutor. So really providing interesting and rich content really falls on me.
There are many different ways to provide motivation:
Use time limits to challenge a student to see if they can complete a task within a certain time limit.
Create a "point" system to motivate students to achieve.
Ask children who their "heroes" are so I can get an idea of what values they have, and understand how to motivate them.
Find out who their friends are, and how they are performing so as to instill a positive sense of competition and achievement. I also like to use older siblings to encourage a sense of friendly competition as younger siblings often look up to older siblings and want to be competitive.
I like to also give context for how the lessons they are learning apply to real life situations so their learning is understood to be relevant.
I never say that information or knowledge is just a hurdle, or something that they "just have to learn for the test." Promoting "academic bulimia" where students just memorize material and then regurgitate it and then forget it I believe devalues knowledge. I provide positive feedback and encouragement. Sometimes I may even bring in small toys or other "prizes" to encourage student performance.
A factor that can greatly assist in providing motivation is understanding the student's values. Two questions I commonly ask people in my life are:
Who are your heroes, or who inspires you?
and If you won the lotto what would you do?
These questions help me to understand the values that students have.
Often when I ask elementary aged students the first question they are confused. Often their answers go towards figures in popular culture such as music "idols" or perhaps even superheroes. However these prepackaged heroes do not help children understand the complex journey and personal development essential for long term success, rather these figures seem like every day people that effortlessly achieve a lifestyle that children would like to emulate. I encourage students to think about why they have chosen their heroes, and what qualities they think makes someone, "heroic." I also may ask them if success or public recognition is necessary for someone to be considered a, "hero."
For the second question it is often the case that children display some kind of desire to somehow help their family. Children at this age have a strong sense of loyalty and gratitude towards their parents even if they do not always display it. However at this age their immaturity will show, and it is often the case that their dreams are not well thought out. Children should be encouraged to explore the realities of the dreams they wish to attain, and such central motivations can be used to provide a context with which to assign other learning goals. I also encourage students to think about devising a game plan to achieve their goals.
In conclusion from my experience of being a tutor I like to think of my students as not sponges for information and my teachings, but rather partners in development and growth. I try to create an environment and lesson plans which will allow reinforcement of core values and concepts which can provide a lifetime of value.
I also like to provide periods of self review so that student and myself can gauge our progress on both an academic and personal satisfaction level to assure that all parties are doing what is necessary to achieve success for all involved. I also believe that if students can be sold on a rational plan for the future, and can gain an understanding of what their role in their family unit, classroom, and society is and where they would like to be in the future with these relationships, that this can provide a robust framework to withstand the later temptations and distractions in later life, especially during the teen and college years when these students will further decide how to build their identity.
A solid foundation goes a long way towards building a strong structure.

About Edward L.

FrogTutoring Tutor Based in New York, NY

I have a passion for social and economic justice issues, and I believe that responsibility is a privilege not a burden. I recently finished volunteering tutoring at a homeless shelter, and helping others to empower themselves is something that I find deeply satisfying for my soul.