Skip to main content

Learning styles

Little Aditya, was in tears. He is an 8-year-old boy. His Mom was shouting at him, as he has not completed his math homework, even after an hour. Aditya’s parents are Ruchi, and Rishi. Both are working in MNC’s. Ruchi took a career break of 5 years, to take care of Aditya. Now, she had joined her office again from a junior level, whereas all her friends have moved to the senior level. When Rishi, entered the home, Aditya was in tears, Ruchi was shouting at him. “What is 8 * 6, Adi, come on, I taught you tables twice yesterday, still you are unable to remember. What am I supposed to do? You remember all cartoon stories, but not one simple tables”.

Aditya tried to remember a lot, he couldn’t remember anything, and he thought it may be 48, but he was scared to tell his mom, what if it is wrong, she will get upset. He thought to himself, “Mom, I will Improve”. He didn’t know how. He wanted to, he wanted to see his mother happy.

When, he was in the younger classes, He used to win, many prizes in different competitions. He and his mother were very happy. As he grew up, suddenly he felt he was pushed in a complex world, he couldn’t grasp many things, and his fellow students could do. He went to meet doctors and counselors, his mother thought he was sick. He was not sure whether he was sick or not. May be he has a poor memory like his mom and teachers say. He was not able to make a decision. Tonight, his father has come early from the office. He was happy. He will rescue him.

Soon as his father, freshened up, he gave a hug to Aditya. To Aadi’s relief, he said with a huge smile, “Go and play”. He was happy, but he looked at his mother with wide eyes, and said slowly,” Dad, I didn’t complete my homework!” His father, replied, “I will do it, don’t worry.” Aadi, again gave a bear hug and ran outside to play with his friends. Ruchi was upset. She retorted angrily,”Will you go and write his exams too?”

After Aditya left, Rishi, hugged Ruchi, “Why are you so tensed dear. He will pick up, don’t worry”. Ruchi was upset,” Do you think you love him more than, me, what is the point you want to prove? You never attend the Parent Teachers Meeting, I have to listen from teachers, and I need to face the other parents. You just don’t need to face anything”.

Rishi kept quiet, “Ruchi, do you think, by shouting at him, things would improve. You thought, he may have some learning disabilities, but the psychologist proved there is nothing like that. All children are not same”.Ruchi replied back, “But I am spending so much time with him. I am always teaching him, each and everything, still what do you expect me to do?”

Rishi, smiled and said,” I expect you, not to expect anything from him. Don’t expect him to learn things faster, don’t expect him to be like you.” Ruchi retorted back angrily,” I am not expecting him to get first prize in everything like me, but at least he shouldn’t be so dull. Now he is 3rd std and he is not sure about 5*5=25, how his life will be. All his friends, will reach a good position in life, what his life will become? I am so scared. Rishi, I put in so much hard work on him, still why he is not getting marks?”

Rishi kept quiet. Ruchi, always wanted the best. She was always best in whatever she did, the fact she didn’t understand is Aadi is the best child. He is very friendly with everyone, always tries to help others.He was hoping, Ruchi will find her answer soon.

After few days,his paternal aunt, Durga Bua, came to visit them. Her son has settled in US. She occasionally visits India,to visit her relatives. After many years, she has come to visit them. Ruchi loves Durga Bua, everyone loves her for her soft words and naïve nature. She was playing with Aadi and commented to Ruchi, “Aadi is a very good boy”. For which Ruchi, replied in a dull voice.” Hmmmm”.she sensed something wrong, but didn’t ask anything.

After Aadi left, she asked, “what happened Ruchi?”. Ruchi shared her worries with her aunt. She listened everything carefully. She went to the small garden which Ruchi maintains in her balcony, and said,” I observe you have a beautiful garden. How do you maintain them? Ruchi replied happily,” I take personal care, bua”. Her aunt said, “Why is this aloe Vera plant, shorter than others, is it a new plant, or you are not watering them properly?” Ruchi whispered, “No, aunt, I have planted it a year back. I take care of them properly, few plants grow faster and few takes time”.

Then, aunt asked, “What do you do then? Do you tell the shorter plant, daily, grow up, look at the other plants, otherwise your life would be of no use or you nurture them slowly that it takes time in growing and you still love them”.

Ruchi felt something snap in her. She looked at her aunt, with tears in her eyes.

Durga Bua, said,” There are 7 types of learning skills for a child, few learn by looking, few by hearing, few by explaining, few understand things by doing activities, and few learn by practically doing the same things again and again. A mother or teacher should try to teach a child, all the 7 methods, and then understand the child’s best learning language and teach accordingly. You can’t think. Your child is dull. Each and every child is unique and special. Can’t you see Aadi is trying everything to make you happy? He loves you so much. If you nurture him now, it is good for both of you. If he accepts, he is dull and turns to be a loser, what will you do?”

Ruchi shuddered by the thought,” Understand your child and help him to understand things. I know you are very busy and Rishi doesn’t help you. Still I am sure, once you are clear and support, Aadi, Rishi will try his level best to help you. Just try. It is always too soon to quit with your child.”

Ruchi kept quiet, deep in her thoughts. Durga bua knew, she will find a different family, when she visits them again.

Forwarded in the interest of friends and relatives.



Note: The 7 ways of learning are :

There are currently seven “Learning Styles”:

Visual (spatial): You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.                      

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Lesser Known Story From The Ramayana

After a long journey, Sri Ramchandra and the army of monkeys, reached the southern coast of our vast land and beheld the expanse of water separating them from Sri Lanka. The search for Sita was over; Rama now knew where she was; it only remained to redeem her from Ravana, by peaceful persuasion if possible or by war, if necessary. In line with our tradition of seeking Divine help, before commencing any work, Sri Ram desired to consecrate and offer worship to Shiva. Arrangements were soon completed, except finding a suitable priest to guide the function. Sri Ram thought for a while and then decided on the best person available nearby - Ravana the king of Sri Lanka. Without hesitation he bade Hanuman to fly to Ravana’s palace and request him to conduct the pooja. There was considerable shock and dismay among the assembly; to invite an enemy to conduct a pooja, specially meant to conquer and destroy him! Will Ravana accept such a preposterous invitation? But Hanuman as a loyal sold

DESTINY is not created by the SHOES we wear but by the STEPS we take...

Interesting conversation between Karna & Krishna - From Mahabharat Karna: "My mother left me the moment I was born. Is it my fault I was born an illegitimate child? I did not get the education from Dhronacharya because I was considered a non-Kshatriya. Parshu-Raam taught me but then gave me the curse to forget everything since I was a Kshatriya. A cow was accidentally hit by my arrow & its owner cursed me for no fault of mine. I was disgraced in Draupadi's swayamvar. Even Kunti finally told me the truth only to save her other sons. Whatever I received was through Duryodhana's charity. So how am I wrong in taking his side?" Lord Krishna replies, "Karna, I was born in a jail. Death was waiting for me even before my birth. The night I was born I was separated from my birth parents. From childhood, you grew up hearing the noise of swords, chariots, horses, bow, and arrows. I got only cow herd's shed, dung, and multiple attem

The advice to God

One day an old farmer came to God, and he said, “Look, you may be God, and you may have created the world, but one thing I must say to you: you are not a farmer, and you don’t know even the ABC of farming. And your whole nature and the functioning of your nature is so absurd, and this I say out of my whole life’s experience. You have to learn something.” God said, “What’s your advice?” The farmer said, “You give me one year’s time, and just let things be according to me, and see what happens. There will be no poverty left!” God was willing and one year was given to the farmer. Now it was according to his will that everything was happening. Naturally, he asked the best, he thought only of the best — no thunder, no strong winds, no dangers for the crop. Everything comfortable, cozy, and he was very happy. The wheat was growing so high! No dangers were there, no hindrances were there; everything was moving according to his desire. When he wanted sun, there was sun; when he wanted r

Lahiri Mahasaya's meeting with Mahavatar Babaji

In the Year 1861, Lahiri Mahasaya was working as an accountant in Govt. Railway Engineering Dept. He was 33 years old and married. He was transferred to Ranikhet in the Himalayas, It was a difficult journey of 30 days on horses and buggy (there were no rails or roads). There was no immediate duty to look after in the office, Lahiri Mahasaya being a spritual man set out to look for the saints he had heard rumours about. He climbed up the "Drongiri Mountain", it was already getting dark around when he heard a voice calling him. Lahiri Mahasaya walked around and found places with Caves, There was a young sadhu standing at the mouth of the cave, smiling at the visitor. The youth looked 25 year old, Lahiri Mahasaya was astonished by the resemblence the young sadhu bore with himself. Here is the account of Lahiri Mahasaya's meeting with Mahavatar babaji as told by him to his disciples. "Lahiri You have come." said the young Sadhu affectionately, "Come and res

The mantra Aham Suryosmi (I am the sun) given by Baghavan Ramana Maharishi

One day, right in the middle of the afternoon, Bhagavan Ramana took his kamandalu, got up and told me, ‘Jagadisha, come with me to walk about on the mountain.’ “But it’s so hot,” I protested. “How can we move about in such weather?” I argued like this because I wanted to escape from the trip. Bhagavan found my excuse unsatisfactory. “You can move about in just the same way that I move about,” he said. “But my feet will burn!” I exclaimed. I didn’t have any footwear with me and I didn’t relish the idea of walking about over the burning rocks. “Will my feet not burn as well?” replied Bhagavan, obviously feeling that this was not a serious obstacle. Bhagavan never wore any kind of footwear. He could walk on the toughest terrain in any weather without feeling the least discomfort. But yours is a different case,” I answered, alluding to the fact that Bhagavan never needed footwear. “Why? Am I not a man with two feet, just like you?” asked Bhagavan. “Why are you unnecessa

Weakness

10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,”(Teacher in Japanese) the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?” “This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experien

The King's challenge!

A rich king is looking for a man to marry his daughter. He sets a challenge – each man who wants to qualify, must wear the royal metal armour and climb 500 stairs to the top of the mountain where the king’s castle is located. Many men from around the world come to take on the challenge. But as soon as they put on the armour, the men realize that it will be an impossible task. The first man takes 1 step, then looks up at the remaining 499 steps and gives up. The second goes up 2 steps and also drops down. The same goes for the third, and the forth, and the rest of the men. Except for the last one. The last man sees that its an impossible task, but decides to give his best any ways. He steps on the first step, then take a deep breath and goes to the second step. He takes another breath, the goes to the third step. By the forth step, he barely lifts his shaking feet, yet he makes it to the forth. He feels that he is about to drop, but he decides to push one more time. As he a

Comparison AND Competition is the thief of JOY!

I was jogging this morning and I noticed a person about half a km ahead. I could guess he was running a little slower than me and I felt good, I said to myself I will try catch up with him. I had about a km before I needed to turn off. So I started running faster and faster. Every block, I was gaining on him just a little bit. After just a few minutes I was only about 100 feet behind him, so I really picked up the pace and pushed myself. I was determined to catch up with him. Finally, I did it! I caught up and passed him. Inwardly I felt very good. "I beat him". Of course, he didn't even know we were racing. After I passed him, I realized I had been so focused on competing against him that I had missed my turn to my house,. I had missed the focus on my inner peace, I missed to see the beauty of greenery around, and in the needless hurry stumbled and slipped twice or thrice and might have hit the footpath and broken a limb. It then dawned on me, isn't that w

Ego sometimes misjudges a person!

A lady in a faded grey dress and her husband, dressed in a homespun suit walked in timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country hicks had no business at Harvard and probably didn't even deserve to be in Harvard. "We want to see the President "the man said softly. "He'll be busy all day "the secretary snapped. "We'll wait" the lady replied. For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president. "Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave" she said to him. The President, stern faced and with dignity, strutted toward the couple. The lady told him "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago

Hanumanji's pure love for Rama

Hanumanji always wanted to serve his Prabhu Lord Sri Rama. One day when Sita Matha was entering into Rama’s bedroom, Hanumanji also followed her. Then Lord Rama said that he cannot enter into the room. Hanumanji said that when Sita Matha can enter into the room, why can’t he enter the room. He is having such an innocent devotional service towards Lord Rama. Just to convince Hanumanji, Rama said that Sita is having a sindhur on her forehead, so she can enter the room. After hearing that, Hanumanji came out and thought for a while. Then Hanumanji concluded that sindhur is the qualification required to enter into Lord Rama’s bedroom. So he decided to ask more about this sindhur to Sita Matha. Next day when Sita was in the dressing table, she was trying to keep sindhur, there came Hanumanji. Sita Matha treated Hanumanji as her son because Sita and Rama did not have children for a long time. Then Hanumanji asked Sita about the purpose and value of sindhur. She understood wh