How to Help Kids With Visual Memory Problems
When a child is struggling in school, the most important questions a parent or educator can ask are "Why?" and "How can I help?" A common cause of learning difficulties is visual memory problems. According to Harvey F. Silver, Richard W. Strong and Matthew J. Perini, authors of "So Each May Learn," intelligence is developed over time, it is not numerically measurable, and it is exhibited in many ways. This runs contrary to intelligence theories of the past. Today we know that each child has his own learning style. There is no need to panic if a child struggles with learning visually. You can find many ways to help him through his schooling.
Instructions
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Teach audibly. You can read aloud to the student, ask her to answer questions orally rather than on paper, and find creative ways to present information, such as through role playing and educational games. Praise the student when she shows she is learning. It is important for the student to know that what she learned audibly is just as valid as the information in her textbooks.
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Plan hands-on lessons. Don't just read a textbook; perform experiments, reconstruct ancient buildings, and practice problem-solving with treasure hunts, riddles and clues. This student may learn best by jumping right into the action and handling tangible objects.
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Exercise his visual memory. Like physical muscle building, these exercises might be painful at first. Introduce memory games that the student will enjoy by using objects or people he is interested in, such as his favorite movie stars or sports teams. You can play games where you memorize a list of words or pictures, where you remember many details from one picture, or where you match up duplicates (such as the card game "Concentration").
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Start out small and slow. If you are helping the student memorize a picture of five different kinds of fruit, have her say the fruit names out loud a few times before you take the picture away. Now her auditory memory can assist her visual memory. Eventually, you will want to wean her off auditory assistance, but remember that this is a slow and steady process.
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Avoid frustrations. As soon as you see the child becoming upset, redirect the activities. Once negative emotions begin ruling the brain, all learning processes will shut down. Keep in mind that there is a difference between frustration and struggling. The child will need to struggle to grow, but certain emotional reactions will hinder this growth process.
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Focus on one goal at a time. If you are teaching history, don't try to combine the lesson with a visual memory exercise. This might seem like a great time saver, but you will be sacrificing the student's education in the process. If you really want the student to learn about a certain historical event, teach through learning mediums your student will understand, such as oral teaching and hands-on activities. Focus on visual memory development at a later time, when the actual learning material is less important.
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Keep a delicate balance. Visual memory development is possible, but your student will probably always learn better through other means. While visual memory might be important to her future education and career, it is equally important for the child to learn study methods that complement her primary learning styles. Don't lose sight of either goal.
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