A triangle has three points and with regard to the learning triangle, each point identifies an aspect of learning including reading, viewing and doing. Implementing the triangle of learning every time you read a book will enhance learning. You know this is true because it has worked for you. Think of the books you have read in High School and were required to write essays and papers about. Do you remember them better than a book you read much more recently? What about the book that "spoke" to you because you related to it so well. Does the message from that book surface more readily than others regardless of order of appearance? This is because you are giving your mind additional avenues to learning and remembering. Providing children experiences related to what they have just read will enhance their learning and memory of what they have just read. The reading triangle is simple and designed to do just that - help you remember. Shall we talk about this more?
1. Read! Read a book. Ask questions about the story's characters, pictures and plot. Invite children to retell the story by reading pictures.
2. View. Actively watch an appropriate and related program with your child. While watching, ask open-ended questions. "What do you think will happen next?" If the characters are dancing and singing, dance and sing with them. Moving the body uses different parts of the brain and invites different memory tactics.
3. Do. Young children learn best by doing and using their five senses to explore their world. Extend the learning about the topics by engaging in a follow-up activity. This could be art or cooking project, a song, a game or anything!
The Triangle of Learning and its application to me, a mother of four enthusiastic learners:
The learning triangle has become one of our favorite things. We have learned to thoroughly enjoy this idea as we bond and enjoy one another through shared books and, thanks to the learning triangle, movies and adventures. I am not exaggerating when I say that many of our most memorable times together have been sponsored by a good read. A book creates a new way for us to recreate inviting new ideas, themes and templates to act on our imaginations. A book is as variable as its topic and its reader. A book, as it has been said so many times before, opens the mind to a world of endless possibilities. Let me share with you some ways that the triangle of learning has succeeded in fulfilling a passion for learning as well as many treasured occasions in our family.
2. View. Actively watch an appropriate and related program with your child. While watching, ask open-ended questions. "What do you think will happen next?" If the characters are dancing and singing, dance and sing with them. Moving the body uses different parts of the brain and invites different memory tactics.
3. Do. Young children learn best by doing and using their five senses to explore their world. Extend the learning about the topics by engaging in a follow-up activity. This could be art or cooking project, a song, a game or anything!
The Triangle of Learning and its application to me, a mother of four enthusiastic learners:
The learning triangle has become one of our favorite things. We have learned to thoroughly enjoy this idea as we bond and enjoy one another through shared books and, thanks to the learning triangle, movies and adventures. I am not exaggerating when I say that many of our most memorable times together have been sponsored by a good read. A book creates a new way for us to recreate inviting new ideas, themes and templates to act on our imaginations. A book is as variable as its topic and its reader. A book, as it has been said so many times before, opens the mind to a world of endless possibilities. Let me share with you some ways that the triangle of learning has succeeded in fulfilling a passion for learning as well as many treasured occasions in our family.
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
1. Read! I read the book aloud to my children.
2. Activity. I visited the bin candy and purchased six pieces of 30 or more different kinds of chocolate including milk, dark, white, clusters, mint, caramel, raspberry, crispy, etc. Then we rated each kind of chocolate with a one through five, five being The Best Chocolate Ever and one being Gross. It was enjoyable and my children were very careful raters. We glued the wrapper from the chocolate or drew a picture of the chocolate in a box on a page and rated it beneath producing a fun final product. Being the speech mom that I am, I took it to the extreme when my son said he would rather have the pizza touch. So, next, each of my sons dictated and illustrated a story of their own, one titled The Pizza Touch, the other, The Bubblegum Touch. What a template for creativity!
3. View. We watched Willy Wanka and the Chocolate Factory. Fact: children respond more positively when this is a shared activity (with mom) and because we shared something together such as a book about chocolate.
This book is a spin off the story King Midas and the Golden Touch so, naturally, we visited this story as well.
Holes by Louis Sachar
1. Read. I read the book Holes aloud to my sons. This book is not a light read and it is one I am glad I shared with them and, at their young ages, did not invite them to read independently. There was much to consider and discuss throughout the reading of the book - many questions to ponder and lessons to learn but this book needed a guide, a parent to lead the mind in a constructive direction. It was a eye opener in many aspects.
2. Activity. We dug a hole! It was exhilarating and fun for all of us. It may sound like work, however, we had something in common - we shared the book Holes. Our hole is about four feet deep and two feet wide and a favorite place for my boys to hide.
3. View. There is a movie about this book but we haven't seen it.
Davy Crockett by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft
1. Read. I read this book aloud to my children. A delightful read for young boys.
2. Activity. We happen to have coon caps thanks to the boys Uncle and Cabella's and we simply acted out the story as well as our own story in the same setting. Learning happens. Activities such as this don't need much initiation on my part. This type of imaginative play is a common part of my boys life.
3. View. We watched Davy Crocket, of course.
We read several books in this series including Daniel Boone, Geronimo, General Custard and Crazy Horse. A great and fun way to learn a little history. We were so taken with it that I sewed a tepee, we made drums, we wrote in characters, and made costumes with head-dresses.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
1. Read. We listened to this book on audiodisc together. Should I mention that this book is quite different from the Disney movie so if you think you know the story because of the movie, you don't. The reader was very fun with an accent and sound effects and everything.
2. Activity. We made Bon Bon fudge using the recipe in the book.
3. View. We watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang while eating Bon Bon fudge. Thank you Mr. Bon Bon.
Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
1. Read. I read this story with a small group of 3rd grade students.
2. Activity. We covered a hall wall with black paper and drew our own garden with chalk. We were very proud of our masterpiece.
3. View. We did not view anything related to this book because of the classroom setting I was in, however, we next read a book Riding Freedom and watched short clips from that time period helping the students visually identify the difference between our time and the 1800's.
Every night my husband and I read to our children (excluding some holidays or late nights). We take turns reading a novel to our oldest two while the other parent reads picture books to our youngest two. This is bonding. And truly, reading is a favorite pass time for each of my children. Following each chapter book, the boys anticipate an activity and view together and this has created a beautiful tradition and a great way to spend time together. I feel passionately about the strong and positive effect the implementation of the triangle of learning has had on our family. I want your family to experience this too. If you have used the triangle of learning in the past, please share your experiences with me. Happy reading and learning.
