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Offer Visual Aids in Math

Tags

Science Mathematics All Ages Strategy

Skills

Verbal Reasoning

Offer Visual Aids in Math

If you are introducing challenging math concepts to a student whose visual-spatial skills are stronger than their verbal skills

Instruction And Practice

  1. Objective: Students will understand new concepts through visualization and hands-on experiences.
  2. When introducing a new concept use manipulatives, visual representations, and pictures to reinforce learning. If possible, use hands-on activities rather than lecture-style teaching.
  3. Use physical examples to bring the concept to life. i.e. If teaching parabolas use a ball. Throw the ball and have students observe the arc. Throw it again and have them see how the arc is different but follows the same pattern.
  4. Have students share other examples they have seen or experienced. The quality of their examples will help you measure their understanding. Throw out a counter-example to ensure their understanding, such as the movement of a ferris wheel.
  5. Allow students to use manipulatives when solving problems to construct their conceptual understanding.
  6. Give simple problems to practice that include a picture so they continue to strengthen their visual imprint of the concept.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Students with stronger spatial skills are more likely to understand abstract concepts when they can visualize them in the context of what they have seen or experienced in the past. Making these direct connections and building on them is the application of elaboration theory but in this case relies more on visual than verbal understanding. Visual reinforcement will strengthen both their understanding and retention.