Beyond the Subject: The Importance of Learning How to Learn

Inside: Learning how to learn is one of the most important skills that is rarely spoken about. Effective learning skills make learning faster, improves retention and makes the process much more fun.

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Learning how to learn for homeschooling parents and kids does present some challenges.  If you are homeschooling your children, you may very well be looking for different ways to ignite their imagination. It’s tough as a parent to teach our children the most basic things sometimes. But what if there was something else we could do to not only help them learn about a subject but also give them the tools to learn or master anything? The importance of learning how to learn is something we don’t necessarily consider.  However, it is a critical skill in any type of development. It goes beyond memorizing facts, also teaching kids resilience and adaptability.  Giving kids the skills to learn how to learn can even help teachers. So what are the best ways to learn how to learn?

Get the Basics Right when Learning How to Learn

Sometimes if we don’t have an optimum diet or mindset, we’re not going to be able to learn things in a way that retains the skill or information.   There are chemical aids present in a good diet or as supplements that can help with concentration.  Nootropics are known as smart drugs.  They can improve thinking, learning and memory in some individuals like those with ADHD.  Caffeine can be considered a nootropic which increases alertness and thus the ability to learn new things.

There are an abundance of other nootropics like the PE22.28 – spray on the market.  While there’s certainly a place for nootropics (and it’s a massive market), we have to remember that these are supplements that must be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and mindset.

When it comes to learning, we need to remember that the setting has to be right, and we have to ensure we are in the right frame of mind. Getting alert is one simple thing, but we also need to think about energizing ourselves with the right foods, including healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, which are now back on the table. Salmon and avocado are good sources of these fats.  They are an important fuel source for the brain, so if you or your kids are learning, you must have them as a part of your diet.

Understanding Learning Styles

There are many different learning styles, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.  Each style has a unique way of gathering information from the environment.

Visual learners use their eyes to learn and take in information.  They need to see something to understand it.

Auditory learnings learn best when listening.  Audiobooks, listening to lectures and instructions give them the best shot at remembering information.

Kinesthetic learners assimilate information by actively doing.  Building lego, doing a science experiment are ways that these learners understand their world.

When you understand what type of learning style your child has, you can then incorporate the most appropriate methods of learning to your child’s homeschool lessons. Some people have a mixture of learning styles, and this makes it even more interesting for you because you can craft lessons that are more dynamic. It may mean a little bit more work for you, but it is certainly going to keep you on your toes because you’ll have to keep their attention.

 

Stay Away from Cramming to Learn Best

When we learn something, we have to give it time for it to move from our short-term memory to long-term memory.  Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of our nervous system to change and adapt when exposed to internal and external stimuli..There is a very interesting learning protocol designed to improve neuroplasticity and thus learning which you can read right here.

Keep in mind, however, that one of the best things to remember is that while something like an exam can increase the pressure, which therefore improves motivation, it’s far better to adopt a consistent study schedule that allows for opportunities to review things over time. These multiple review opportunities reinforce the practice of learning rather than simply memorizing. Cramming rarely produces long-term retainment.

For those who are teaching their children at home, learning how to learn is one of the most important skills that is rarely spoken about. Effective learning skills make learning faster, improves retention and makes the process much more fun.