Learning Strategies

What are learning Strategies?

There are many different learning strategies that teachers can utilize to help reach their students. Learning strategies are a way for an individual to complete an assignment. The way a student organizes and uses their skills to learn content, and effectively complete tasks whether in school or outside of school (Freeman, 2004). Learning strategies, also called teaching strategies, will allow some students to pace themselves in their academic progress and others to develop (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). This allows students to have the chance to increase responsibility or allow students to work through a new process of learning (Gumbom Magande, & Nhamo, 2017).  Some of the strategies I came across were beginning class with a minute to calm their students after passing periods, incorporate movements, take sensory breaks, build cognitive skills, and create a class with a growth mindset (Gilfeather, 2018). 

With my degree being Physical Education, I decided to see what other P.E teachers were incorporating into their classrooms. One strategy I found was Cooperative Learning strategy. This strategy works best when students are instructed to work as a team, hence why it is so popular among the P.E teachers. Cooperative learning shows how well a team can learn and function together towards a common goal or task. This requires skills such as communication, decision making, conflict resolution, trust, and leadership (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). Peer instruction I believe will also be an asset to incorporate because every student will have a different experience with different sports, so why not let them help each other? Peer instruction also requires the students to work in pairs or in teams, partnering/grouping students with better understanding alongside students who need additional help grasping the concepts (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). I will also be utilizing a Simulation Strategy, as this will allow me to tackle real life problems and attach them to lessons in the gym. This will spark their social skills and can create a lesson/game that will hold more meaning than just playing a game to pass the period (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). Interactive teaching, I believe, will be a big part of my teaching strategy in my classroom. This will allow me to start a conversation, allow the students to discuss/work it out verbally while I am monitoring closely, keeping the dialogue on topic. Students will get to voice their own opinions, ask their own questions, and learn from themselves instead of listening to me talk all day (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). With interactive teaching, I will in turn have to use problem solving strategies as well. This strategy will combine old classroom rules with new principles to encourage them to learn off their foundation blocks. This will encourage them to work together to solve a problem in various ways, and not be afraid to fail for they can start over and try again (Gumbo, Magande, & Nhamo, 2017). 

To track classroom progress, we can have monthly discussions with student led reflections. They can tell me what they thought worked, what they didn’t like, and what they loved. This will allow me to see where they are, what they’ve accomplished, and where I have missed the mark completely. I believe this will be extremely important, especially in my first few years as a coach/teacher. My students’ best interest will always be my top priority. I want to be able to teach them in a way they can understand. A challenge is good, but having them feel overwhelmed and constantly uncomfortable is counteractive. They will shut down and not learn the things they need to learn. 

Sources

Gilfeather, S. Ready to learn: 5 strategies to help students with learning differences improve their focus. (April 20, 2018. Retreived from https://www.educationdive.com/news/ready-to-learn-5-strategies-to-help-students-with-learning-differences-imp/521005/

Freeman, J. Learning Strategies. (2004). Retrieved from http://www.ldonline.org/article/5627/

Gumbo, S., Magande, S., Nhamo, E. Teaching Strategies Employed by Physical Education Teachers in Gowke North Primary Schools. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.sportscienceresearch.com/IJSEHR_201712_03.pdf

Field of Study: Kinesiology Teaching/Coaching

Strategy	Description	Teacher	Learner
Cooperative learning	Students will work together toward a common goal/task. This will spark communication and trust among the students.	Teacher will team students up and they will compete in an in house tournament to become that period's champion.	While in teams, the students will need to talk to each other effectively to be able to win the game.
Peer Instruction	When teaching a new concept, some students catch on quicker than others while others will need more assistance.Students can teach their peers.	The teacher will pair up the students who exhibit the skill accurately with the students who are struggling	The students will assist one another until everyone has better understanding and can perform the skill.
Simulation Strategy	Relates a real life problem into a lesson in the classroom. Students will connect the "real world" with their "school world".	The teacher will apply life experiences that the students may be going through or will be facing soon as they grow up to the lesson so students can make connections and have a deeper impact.	The student will be able to relate the assignment with their life and will exhibit a cognitive learning process.
Interactive Teaching	Allows students to discuss interesting topics among themselves and allows them to learn from each other. Teaches them listening and communication skills as well as problem solving.	After the teacher has prompted the students, he/she will moderate and monitor the discussion making sure the conversation is on topic and appropriate.	Students will discuss a topic and hear their peer's opinions. They will learn from each other by way of casual conversation.
Problem Solving	This strategy shows students how to resolve conflicts. This can be taken out of the classroom and be applied to their personal lives, and also applied across all subjects in school. Shows students how to assess and solve.	The teacher will present a problem and prompt students to work together to resolve it.	Students will collaborate and come up with a plan to resolve the conflict.