My Learning Style

One afternoon in Rogate, we were assigned 2 tests that we had to take: The Gardner and Gregorc tests both are designed to show you how you learn things best, and who you really are.  Not only that, but I think that these tests also were designed to try and teach you something new about yourself.  I definetly think that it does.  For the Gardner Multiple Choice Intelligence Test, I turned out to be a Logical/Mathamatical, and Musical learner.  At first, I didn't really know what to think about those results.  (If you have read my first post then you would understand this); I was surprised when I didn't turn out to be a Linguistic learner.  I absolutely love to write and just the subject of writing always has been one of my best.  I thought that I would have scored highly in that one.  However, my overall score was sadly only about 2.   But...then I thought about it some more, and some more...and just a teeny bit more...and then I realized that the test actually made sense!  I did learn best Logically/ Mathematically as well as Musically. 

Learning and being taught something always had made so much more sense with logic involved.  I really do like puzzles and logcic problems now that I think about it, maybe at times even more than writing.  I thought about writing class and about grammar, spelling, words, etc,etc, and came to the realization that it was kind of difficult to learn through words and stories.  I thought about Math and Algebra and about how I ALWAYS look forward to that class.  It is one of my favorites.  Even when there is a test or quiz, I can't help but feel a little excited.  It all is so clear to me and...simple.  There is an unknown: solve for it...there is one answer - find it.  When I was in the Gifted and Talented Program at my elementary school, for homework there would be logic worksheets with fun problems and puzzles on them that I would always save for the last bit of my homework for that night because it was always my favorite.  Each summer when my mother buys me summer workbooks for the summer, I always fly through the math and logic problems and end up either skipping or going slower on the language arts and written out responses.

The other part of the Gardner Test that I scored equally in was: Musical Learner.  I play the piano and flute, and I love both of them. Notes, rythms, beats all tie into math and logic.  It may seem after I have written 2, long paragraphs about how I am a mathematical and logical learner, that I wouldn't really be musically inclined.  However, I am.  When music is involved, many things are also much easier to understand.  To find out that I was a musical learner was also a bit of a surprise too; I really didn't expect that, but now that it has turned out that way, it does make alot of sense. 

Now, the second test that I took was the Gredroc Learning/Teaching Styles Who They Are and How They Learn.  My results for this test were really accurate I thought.  I ended up as a Concrete Sequencial and Abstract Sequential person.  Concrete Sequential basically means the same thing as a Logical and Mathematical learner, which I have thoroughly explained in the previous paragraphs.  I am ordered, structured, accurate, detailed, exact, etc.  I am associated with outlines, charts, data, labs, computers, short lectures, etc.  I obviously agree with that result.  Abstract Sequential means that I am a very logical, structured, and intellectual person.  I am a thinker, a reader and researcher, and a debater.  I like to take notes, research, read, work alone and in groups, etc.  I definitely have to say that I agree with that one too.  That style of learning really describes me.  I didn't really know that about myself until my final results.  I realized that it was all true and I had never even realized it.  That is where my writing and reading skills come into play.

Knowing all of these facts about how I learn best definitely can help me in school.  I now know that taking notes, researching information, reading more about the subject, and maybe even making a chart for all of the information for a project in school will all help me to study better. 

There are ALOT of people that I admire, but I know that I just have to pick 2 so here they are!

1. Mrs. Elizabeth Janey (My piano teacher) - My piano teacher truly is someone whom I will ALWAYS admire.  Not only for her amazing talent, but her artistic albilities, acting, and singing.  She is someone whom I can always trust no matter what, and has made me the pianist that I am today.  I would say that she definetly is a Musical Learner.  When it comes to music, she is an expert.  Music, especially piano, is the one thing that is always teaching her something new, and that she never tires of.  She says that music has truly taught her alot and she wouldn't know what to do without it; it is her life.

2. Marie Curie - Marie Curie was a French-Polish physicist and chemist.  She was the first woman scientist to earn the Nobel Peace Prize and paved the path for many new scientists to come.  She even  made the discovery of two new elements: polonium and radium!  I would definetly say that Marie Curie is a Logical/Mathematical learner.  She experimented, questioned, and calcualted in order to learn more and become an even better scientist.

3.My Grandmother: Coralia Mojena - My grandmother may not be a famous, world-wide known celeberty, but she still is to me.  She is the one of the hardest workest I have EVER seen.  When she was about my age, she cooked, cleaned, sewed, and took care of her parents when they were ill.  She still cooks amost every night for my family, and she is 83.  She goes outside to water the plants in the patio, even when we try and tell her to stay inside.  She always is helping out, and does more than me!  I would definetly say that she is an Intra-Personal learner. (Though, she doesn't meditate) She is queit and sets her own goals and sees that she accomplishes them.  However, she isn't isolated from the family.  She is very involved with all of us. 

Well, thats about it!  I hope that you now know more about which learning style is best for me, and what I have learned about myself.  Stay tuned for more posts! :)

Marissa

*(I commented on Camille's and Alanna's posts)*

My First Blog Post! A Bit About Me...

Greetings everyone!   My name is Marissa, I am 12 years old, and I am a 7th grader at Northern Burlington Regional Middle School!  At home, my family includes my mother and father, my older sister Michelle, my younger brother Matthew, my grandmother, and my 4-year old Havanese puppy! (He just recently got groomed so he looks so adorable!)

There are a couple of things that you should know about me. First of all, I LOVE to write, especially fantasy and fiction stories. I could write for hours without end. I love the feeling of being able to create my own story with my own thoughts and ideas. One of my goals is to someday be able to publish my own novel. In elementary school, every teacher I had always said that I should definitely consider writing and publishing a book, and that I have a talent.  I guess that is true because that is what everyone always says, but you never know what the publishers are going to think about it.  You always have to tell yourself that there is ALWAYS room for improvement and nothing is 100% perfect.  I guess that pretty much covers one of my favorite subjects.  Not only do I love to write, but I absolutely love to read, and I guess that's why I love to write so much.  I read the entire Harry Potter series when I was only in about 4th grade, and I have been reading chapter books since I was only in about 2nd grade. Every time I read an amazing fantasy story with a dark, twisted plot full of action, magic, and an unexpected ending, I feel a strong inspiration to create what that author did, and better. Finally, to wrap up my 5-foot novel on a couple of my favorite subjects in school, I also really enjoy Science and Algebra.  I really like Science, and Algebra has always been a favorite of mine, ever since I started learning about it! For some odd reason, doing and solving random math problems always helps to take my mind off of things.  Whenever someone is injured in my family (for example, a cut or burn) it never sickens or bothers me.  When it comes to medicine, my family always says that is what I should pursue because I am always able to stay calm during crazy situations!  I don’t get intimidated easily. 

Some of my hobbies are: I love to cook, paint and draw (paintings and other pieces of art have become my presents to my family members on birthdays and special events, and they cherish them), play the piano and flute, obviously read and write, enjoy the outdoors (especially my pool in the spring and summer), spend time with my family, listen to music, and horseback ride.  I started to take piano lessons about 3 years ago, and I have been playing ever since.  I also have been playing the flute for about 3 years too, and still enjoy playing it.  I have only recently started taking horseback riding lessons and I absolutely adore it!  If I could, I would go to the stables and ride every day.  I love it more than anything, so that must mean that I love it a lot.  I have always had an interest in horses and have always wanted to learn how to ride.  At home, I enjoy learning about my family history (where they inherited from long ago) and the country that my family is from (Cuba).  It has always been a fascinating subject.   

Finally, there are a lot of things that make me happy. Puppies (as you can see from the “Daily Puppy” on my blog below!), kittens, and horses ALWAYS make me feel happy.  Whenever I see one or the other, my entire day is perfect!  They are so soft, sweet, and adorable! (Well, puppies and kittens are, but horses have a special glow to them that I can’t describe.) My family also always makes me happy.  I am very dedicated to my family; close family union is something that has been passed down in my family for generations.  Last but not least, all of my hobbies always make me very happy, especially the piano and flute, and the outdoors!

When I grow up, I am very interested in pursuing a career in medicine.  That has always been my main goal: a doctor or maybe even a surgeon.  I would also like to continue my piano, painting, and horseback riding (hopefully)…

Well, that is enough about me!  I hope that you have enjoyed my very first post.  Stay alert for more posts!! J

Marissa