If we look at children and students individually, we can see both strengths and weaknesses. Let's dwell on students' strong points to nurture self esteem and bring forward their best qualities.

Emphasizing strong points can help children reach a successful outcome in their general education and may pave a way for learning basics in unexpected ways.

Musical instruction
For example, a student who has trouble learning to read from a book may be able to learn to play a musical instrument like the piano. And in the process of learning to play will learn aspects of reading while being involved musically.

Playing the piano can be learned by practicing sequences over and over, and combined into more advanced pieces over time. Students are not just learning to play piano, they are learning aspects of reading without the reading book such as: reading left to right; moving along in phrases; learning patterns of sequencing; memorizing words to poems or songs set to music.

All these essential language skills are learned by playing a musical instrument. Maybe you know some kids who have excelled academically after successfully learning to play an instrument they were enthusiastic about.

Which brings up another important point in learning and that is that enthusiasm puts the energy into the tasks to get the learning done and job done, too. Don't we all excel in the areas in which we're most enthusiastic? It's the same with students. So, if we can get them enthusiastic about learning something new, we will see progress.

Learning styles
If your child has learning disabilities, try to find out what kind of learner they are - auditory, visual or kinesthetic, and make efforts to teach basic concepts through their strongest learning channel.

The benefit of teaching kids kinesthetically is that it covers all three types of learners. While the kids are moving to learn, some are listening to directions and others are watching to learn. It is a win-win method all around. And the action of movement generates the energy of enthusiasm that is contagious in the class.

If you get a group of kids skipping in a circle with partners, then moving into sets or patterns you'll see enthusiasm and energy in action. The upswing is that students are doing more than having fun and letting off steam. They are learning math patterns and sets in a practical and kinesthetic way.

So, now we've talked about a couple alternate methods of learning basic skills outside the parameters of a workbook - musical instruction and kinesthetically - combined with the necessary ingredient of enthusiasm!

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Article by Susan Kramer