20-year-old student-teacher makes learning fun again
- Stephanie Moka
- Dec 7, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2022
By: Stephanie Moka
Gabriella Davies is dedicating her Sundays this fall to teaching preschoolers science through crafts.
"I want to make learning a lot more fun and interactive because a lot of kids learn by doing things," Davies says.
The 20-year-old is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Education and Theatre Production/Design at York University.
Before becoming a preschool and children's program instructor, she was a camp counselor over the summer. This really taught her the skills to be more engaging in her teaching.
She acknowledges that different kids have different ways of learning, and she believes that teaching through crafts is a way that every student can enjoy the experience.
Learning Styles
The Educator's Diary, published in 1995, states that "teaching takes place only when learning does."
Research by NYU Steinhardt found that a student’s motivation is closely linked to a teacher’s teaching style.
As a result, they recommend that teachers recognize that students have different learning styles and modify their instruction to best cater to the learners.
According to Ability Path, a disability services, and support organization, the four main types of learning styles are:
Visual: These are students who learn through seeing and observing a teacher’s body language.
Auditory: These children learn by listening in class and participating in discussions.
Tactile: These learners learn through touch. They like to participate in activities and projects that allow them to feel things.
Kinesthetic: Kinesthetic learners learn by actively moving and doing things. They like a hands-on approach to learning.
A study by Don State Technical University found that only a few teachers are willing to apply more innovative techniques in their teaching.
"They're the ones who really need to understand this stuff because they're working with these individuals every single day," Todd Cunningham says. He is the Chair of the School and Clinical Child Psychology Program at the University of Toronto.
Learning Disabilities
Davies says her top priority is making sure her classroom is a safe space for all kids, including those with mental health disorders and learning disabilities.
"Teaching takes place only when learning happens"
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common brain disorders in children.
ADHD and dyslexia are two conditions that often co-occur, according to Cunningham. Dyslexia makes ADHD symptoms worse, so if not managed or treated at a young age, it becomes harder for the individual to work through.
Cunningham suggests this step-by-step plan to help teachers find a balance when trying to cater to a wide range of students, including ones with disabilities:
Step 1: Use curriculum baseline measures, which are quick one-to-five-minute screening tools that are accurate in identifying key academic skills.
Step 2: Group students by abilities. Typically, you will have three to four groups:
Group 1: The top ten percent who need little or no teacher’s instruction time on that scale. They just need to go and do the work.
Group 2: Here will be the bulk of the students. They will need some teacher direction.
Group 3: These students will need more or double the teacher's attention to developing a skill.
Group 4: These children need professional intervention (psychologists, psychiatrists) to come in and help them.
He says doing this will help teachers differentiate their time and instructional approach to those different groups.
In April 2022, Ontario showed support and funding for students with special education needs, and teachers like Gabriella are helping in the ways they can, one student at a time.
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