Activity B

Math learning styles

Tutors will explore math strategies with different learning styles.

Matching activity, use of handout

Materials and equipment

Flip chart paper
Index cards
Handout 9.3: Math Learning Style Strategies

Preparation

Review learning styles: auditory, visual and kinesthetic.
Write the three learning styles on three separate pieces of flip chart paper.
Write each of the learning style strategies from the handout onto separate cards.
Copy handout.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Ask tutors what they remember about the different learning styles.
  2. Review each style as needed.
  3. Ask tutors to take a card and place it under the correct heading explaining why it fits in that category.
  4. Give tutors the handout Math Learning Style Strategies and ask them to use it to determine whether they placed the cards correctly.

Variation

To give tutors the opportunity to explore each of the learning styles, you could set up three stations, one for each learning style. At each station, there would be materials and instructions for solving a problem using that style. You could ask tutors to circulate in pairs or small groups to each station for about 10 minutes, and try using the suggested methods to solve the problem. After the rotation is complete, tutors can discuss which learning styles worked best for them and why.

Activity C

Instructional strategies

There are some basic strategies tutors can use with all learners. The following activity looks at a few of these strategies.

Reflection, use of handout, discussion

Materials and equipment

Handout 9.4: Instructional Strategies
Slips of paper or index cards for questions
Bowl or container

Preparation

Copy handout.

Variation

If you have a group of more than four or five participants, and there are multiple questions, you could divide into small groups and provide each group with some of the question cards to discuss. In this way, more people will be able to offer opinions and you will hold people’s attention because they are more engaged. The groups could record their key ideas on flip chart paper and bring those back to the full group ,where you and others could contribute additional points.