Strategies for Learning

Tactile-Kinesthetic Learners

• To memorize something, walk around while you say it to yourself over and over. You can also use flash cards or notes while you are walking around.
• When you read a short story or chapter in a book, try a whole-to-part approach. This means you should look at the whole thing first. Then look at the smaller parts. Try to get a feel for the book.
  • First look through the pictures.
  • Then read the headings.
  • Then read the first and last paragraphs of the story or chapter.
  • You could also try skimming the chapter or short story backwards, paragraph by paragraph. Skimming means looking over something quickly.
• If you need to fidget, try not to disturb others. Try jiggling your legs or feet. You could do some hand and finger exercises. Or you could handle a koosh ball, tennis ball or something like that.
• You might not study best if you are sitting at a desk. Try lying on your stomach or back. Try studying while sitting in a comfortable chair or on cushions or a beanbag.
• Studying with music in the background might suit you. Try to use calm music, like classical music. Baroque music is often best. Music with a heavy rhythm will be more difficult.
• Use coloured construction paper to cover your desk or even decorate your area. Choose your favourite colour as this will help you focus. This is called colour grounding.
• Try reading through coloured transparencies to help focus your attention. Transparencies are clear plastic pages. They come in different colours. Try a variety of colours to see which colours work best for you.
• When you study, take many breaks but be sure to settle back down to work quickly. A reasonable schedule would be 15-25 minutes of study, 3-5 minutes of break time.
• When you memorize information, try closing your eyes and writing the information in the air or on something with your finger. Try to picture the words in your head as you are doing this. Try to hear the words in your head too.
• Later, when you try to remember this information, close your eyes and try to see it with your mind’s eye and to hear it in your head.
• When you learn new information, it will help you to make something. For example, make task cards, flash cards, electro-boards, card games, floor games and so on. This will help you process the information.

Handout 3.5