The Connections System℠
Teachers can use this as a guide when developing lesson to ensure that they reach all learners when they are teaching. It allows the teacher to ask themselves if they are catering their instruction to meet the needs of today's students.
Musical - Can this concept be taught in the form of a song? Putting steps to the tune of a common song. Bringing in a song to a slideshow that can spark a certain feeling.
Visual - What are the student seeing during the lesson? Ex. Matching linguistic to non-linguistic representations (words to pictures). Graphic organizers.
Verbal - What are the students saying? This requires questioning techniques on behalf of the teacher. Why? Explain? Give me proof? Give your opinion on.. Talk to a partner about.. Discuss with your group? Students are encouraged to use academic language.
Personal - How can my students feel that this is relevant to their own lives? Real life problems and situations
Cultural - Is this topic culturally relevant? If not, how can I relate it to my students culture or language?
Auditory - What are the students hearing? This is the most commonly used, but should not only come in the form of the teacher talking. It should also be in the form of peer interaction. Students explaining to each other in their own words a specific concept. Specific vocabulary and language are emphasized.
Kinesthetic - What are the students doing during the lesson? Ex. Manipulative and work mats, printed out Interwrite slide , note-taking, role-playing.
Emotional - What are my students feeling? Is their a certain emotion that I want to spark? Diary entries, photo slideshow with music.