Effective Teaching and Learning Strategies

There are many ways on how to make learning fun. Kids love to play and manipulate objects. They really want hands on activities therefore, teachers should be equipped with activities to make learning interesting and fun. Here are some of the effective techniques proven to be effective.

Discovery method
This strategy is very interesting to the kids especially if the teacher is equipped with materials or visual aids to use. This could be used in any subject the teacher thinks appropriate to use. Take for example in Science the topic is Matter. It is best to present the topic by letting the kids name all the things they can see around them. Let them come to the board one by one and write what they see. The real things around them are good visual aids. When enough things are on the lists, start to introduce the topic MATTER and explain their types and characteristics. Let the children identify from their lists and have them discover what type of matter they belong and what characteristics they have too. In this way, they will learn better and be more interested to think of some more examples when they are given the opportunity to discover it themselves rather than the teacher to give all the examples and let them memorize what he said. Discovery method is an effective way of learning things. Same as in English and in Math subjects discovery method is good to use.

Group Dynamics
In this strategy, the kids will be grouped into 3 or 4 in each group. They will be given a topic to discuss in relation to the lesson presented. They will brain storm and write down their ideas based on the discussion they have done. Each member of the group will be given opportunity to share his opinion then they would agree to collect the best ideas they've come up with. It is best if they will report to class the result of their discussion so that others also may gain insights about the topic since they are all related to the lesson they are learning in class.

Role Playing
This strategy is good for history or social studies subject. When I was teaching, I used this method in social studies subject when we studied about history and cultures. I grouped the class into 5 in each group and assigned them to a certain event in history and certain culture for them to role play. I gave them time to meet with their group and plan on how to present it like real. When the kids are properly motivated, they are really good in using their initiatives. I was amazed of how kids used all the resources they can avail on the spot to use as costumes. They are very creative that even I myself could never have that idea in mind.
I was so impressed with the kids performance and since then, I always use this method when it is appropriate for my topic.

Peer Teaching
Peer teaching is best for kids who are very slow partnered with fast or an average kid in class.This is best if it will be done one on one. A fast learner will be partnered with the slow leaner. Kids are very comfortable learning the hard thing together with their peer teaching them. Most often, the slow learners are not scared to ask questions from their peers than to their teachers. As if they feel free to say anything they wanted to say to their peers while they are embarrassed to do it to their teacher. In peer teaching method, the peer teacher will be able to help the slow learner gain confidence on himself while he also gain mastery of the lesson as they studied together. This will strengthen their social relationship too.

Experiment
This is a very common method of learning things by doing. Kids are very eager to learn things by manipulating objects and observe what happen next. In performing the experiment, teachers should let the children do it themselves but they must be around to guide them and be ready to help when necessary.
Learning is very effective when the students were the ones doing it instead of just observing the teacher who does the thing.

Cooperative Learning
This cooperative learning is almost similar to group dynamics. In this method, the kids will be grouped into 2-3 or depending upon the size of the class.
Everyone in the group must have responsibility. There must be a leader to facilitate doing the task assigned to them, a secretary to jot down important things, one must be assigned for gathering materials to be used. Everybody in the group must have something to do and they must cooperate with the leader. Learning is fun for the kids when they are given opportunity to explore things with their peers.

Whole Group discussion method with activities after the discussion
This is a traditional method where the teacher present the lesson to the whole group, discuss it with them and the kids will just listen attentively. The teacher will then ask questions to the class about the lesson discussed. Most often, the fast learners are always on the lead to raise their hands to answer the question and this will intimidate the others. A smart teacher can stir up the whole class to participate by turning this into an active group games or individual participation. Group the class into 2 groups., so If the class is 20, there will 2 groups of ten . Each group have numbers 1-10. By the time the teacher called the number 1 to answer the question, both number one in each group will give their answers either by writing it on the board or by reciting it. This is fun because they will race to the board and write their answers. If the numbers called can not answer, proceed to the next number. They can be grouped also into teams where the fast learner in the team can coach the slow ones in certain points when the slow could not make it and needs help. This will encourage everybody to be alert and attentive during the lesson presentation and discussion so that they can answer when their time comes. They will be challenged when everybody is given an opportunity to answer. Using active game activities during class discussion is fun for the kids. Learning is exciting to them when it is done through game activity.