Posts Tagged ‘Patterns & Visual Learners’

Visual Learners and Patterns?

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Some children are visual learners.  They must “see” to learn.  For these students, my pattern approach of teaching the times tables works exceptionally well.  Instead of telling children what the pattern is, my workbook teaches children to discover patterns! 

Discovering  patterns makes learning more fun!  Patterns provide a structure that  enhances a child’s  confidence.

Children like that table 8 ends in 8, 6, 4, 2, 0. 

                                                8, 16, 24, 32, 40,

                                                           48, 56, 64, 72, 80

This 8-6-4-2-0 pattern loop  continues to infinity.  Your child is learning Number Theory in the 3rd grade!

Children quickly “get” the pattern so be sure to reinforce the tables by having them repeat, ” 8 x 2 equals 16″ and so on as they fill in the pattern.  Saying these reinforces learning. 

Teaching children the multiplication tables gives parents the opportunity to introduce their children to analytical thinking.

Why not find the similarities and differences between the tables?  Why not learn what happens when you multiply an ODD number times an ODD number?  ODD x ODD = ODD.  How ODD is that?  Not really when you know the rules.  The times tables are fun!

Teaching your child the times tables is the moment to instill in your child a love of numbers and fascination with math!  Math is fun. 

“Mathematics is the science of patterns,” Keith Devlin said.  Once children learns to discover patterns in math, they will be prepared to look for these in literature.  What child doesn’t like repeating rhymes in storybooks, songs and poems?  What child doesn’t like patterns in music?  We are wired to discover patterns!  We are wired to ENJOY patterns!