FIVE: Make it
Experiential (Full of Feeling)
Experiential
teaching means letting the learner physically or emotionally experience what
you're trying to learn. In the case of teaching kids about earned income, for
example, you can physically hand them money for something they traded their
time and energy for as well as money for something they did that might pay them
over and over again (write a book, buy a rental property, invest in a stock
that pays dividends). That simple gesture of handing them money elicits
internal responses that will help embed the information.
SIX: Teach to All
Three Learning Styles
Most people learn
visually, auditorily or kinesthetically or a combination of any two or three.
This means we learn by seeing, hearing and feeling, both physically and
emotionally.
Teaching to all of
these learning styles helps ensure that every student receives the information
in a manner they can process best.
As an example, when
you say, "There are five ways...", use your hand to illustrate the
number five as well as write the number 5 in a bright color on a flipchart or
dry-erase board.
Hint: Be BIG. If
you want someone to move 6", you have to illustrate this by moving
12". Use your whole body when you teach. Be excited and inspiring if you
want your students to be excited and inspired.
SEVEN: Repetition,
Repetition, Repetition
When YOU say
something, it's one thing. When you get your students to say something, it's a
completely different story. When THEY say it, it's locked into their minds in a
more profound way.
Many people don't
learn the first time they are exposed to a concept, idea or piece of
information. Think of your teaching as 'exposing' them to information and know
that it takes often takes repetition for information to sink in. As an example,
in a financial literacy workshop, have your students repeat sayings and
principles like Pay Yourself First over and over again.
Hint: put
principles on large colorful pieces of paper and hang on the wall. Give
students a reward every time they hear the principles, run up and point to the
principle and make the other students recite the principle out loud.
For more
information on YOU can learn how to teach your financial literacy programs in
the most amazingly affective way, check out http://www.creativewealthintl.org/trainthetrainer.php
Elisabeth Donati is
the owner of Creative Wealth Intl., LLC and creator of Camp Millionaire, a
unique financial intelligence program for youth. She is an expert in teaching
the basic financial principles everyone needs in a way that is engaging,
empowering and fun.
She has a passion
for empowering women in her Creative Wealth for Women program and is the author
of The Ultimate Allowance and the weekly ezine, Financial Wisdom with a TWI$T.
For information, visit http://www.creativewealthintl.org
