Each student has his or her own way of learning. As the teacher, your role is to find the right way to reach each student!

Recently Angela and I had the opportunity to work with a doctor who specializes in the brain development of adolescents and how they learn. It was a very enlightening experience and helped us to develop a deeper understanding of how students learn. We have all had those students who just don’t seem to get it. But the real problem might be that we just don’t get how to get them to learn. This can be frustrating to both the student and the teacher. 

The fact of the matter is that most of us will teach the way we have learned because that is the way we processed the information best and that is the way we feel most comfortable. However, if you’re able to discover what makes each student tick, then you can teach them in such a way that they will be able to process the information that you are giving them. In turn that will help them advance, enjoy the learning process and thus keep on dancing. This understanding of the learning process will make you not only more valuable to your students, but also in big demand as a teacher because the results will speak for themselves.

Here are some keys to helping you discover which type of 'learner' your student may be:

1.     The ones who need to watch. I am sure you have had someone in class who, no matter how descriptive you are, needs a demonstration to really understand. These types of students are the visual learners. If you are not able to physically demonstrate, getting someone in the class to do so will help these students learn quicker. They will also respond well to pictures and video correction.

2.     The ones who need to hear. These are the exact opposite of the ones who need to watch. These students are very in tune with your verbal description. Taking the time to give a very in-depth description of the step or technique will be like music to the ears of these students. This type of student also has a tendency to be very musical.

3.     The ones who need to feel. These students will need to feel it in their bodies. They will need to move and will respond well to having you manipulate their bodies or point clearly to the area that they are trying to use. These students will usually work like crazy as they try to find what muscle will work best to enable them to achieve the desired result.

These are the most common types of learners. Once you have distinguished each student’s type, then have to decide on the most effective approach. Chances are you will have several of each in a class and there may be other types as well. Like the students who constantly practice—they never stop until they get it! And then there’s the student who fidgets and moves while you are giving verbal instructions. If you insist that this student be still and stop moving, what really happens is that he will stop listening and learning. Look closely and you’ll see that this student is totally disconnected and gazing out into space when you are demonstrating something in class because he simply does not absorb information in the traditional way. This type of student is a round peg in a square hole and will continue to be unable to learn and process the information without a change in your teaching approach.

So it is important to find out which group your students belong in and how you can reach each personality type, keep the class moving and not get bogged down. Try giving a verbal correction and see who gets it right away. Then go to the ones who need to feel it and add some minor adjustments. Encourage the visual ones to check out what you are showing the students who need to feel, so they can watch and learn. Observe how your students respond to what they are being taught. I even recommend that you keep a few simple notes on each student until you really get to know them and understand what makes them tick.  You will most likely have to use all of the above approaches in any given class so that every student can learn in their own comfort zone. As they mature and become more advanced it is a good idea to help them to understand how they personally learn and how to become more adept at learning through other methods. They will need to understand that they will not always have teachers who are so in tune to what they need to move ahead and they must learn to transfer any information they receive as students through the channels that help them the most. If they are not able to do this, they may get left behind in classes or not be able to advance in their career as a dancer or in any other field.

There are a lot of teachers out there who will not take the time or make the effort to make adjustments to their teaching style. The ones who are willing will reap the rewards of seeing how well their students progress. 

As a teacher I am always learning and, through the years I have discovered how I learn best and where my comfort zone is. I have worked to make sure that I not only teach in the way that works for me, but also in a way that works for my students. Remember: If your students are not getting it, it is not always their fault—it may be yours! Keep working to find out what makes each student tick and they will reward you by not only getting it, but also by the joy they will display when they dance!