Welcome back to our second installment of specific study strategies for multiple intelligences.  If you didn’t get a chance to take a look at Adam Sikinski’s blog on which this podcast/blog are based you can do so here.

Today, we’ll be discussing study strategies for Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence.

A quick recap on Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Bodily kinesthetic learners: demonstrates great physical ability, proficiency and skill, enjoys sports, games, dancing, cooking, decorating, using his/her hands, DIY projects, and getting physically involved in the tasks at hand.

Individuals displaying bodily-kinesthetic intelligence advance our world by keeping us entertained, and by providing essential maintenance services that make all our lives much easier.

Recommended Study Strategies

Like all his recommended study strategies, Adam states that some ideas may be unorthodox or somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on accelerating your learning potential will be long and lasting.  His strategies are designed to enhance learning by adding variety and creative self-expression to study sessions. He also recommends identifying activities that resonate with your child, and to use a variety of tools and locations to optimize learning.

Here are 5 study strategies for your bodily-kinesthetic learner:

1. Physically Write on Paper 

The key to bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is to physically engage with tasks and move the body to stimulate the mind.  Writing ON paper rather than on a computer does just that.  Writing on paper is one of these methods that works very well to naturally expand this intelligence. However, be creative and use your imagination.

2. Act as if Role Playing Topic (too funny not to be shared entirely) 

Okay, congratulations once again. You have been awarded the leading role in a new Stephen Spielberg movie alongside Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This could be your big break. However, not only do you play the leading role, Stephen Spielberg has actually requested that you write the script for the movie. The only guideline that he gave, was that this movie has to be about the topic you are currently studying and that it must be an absolute blockbuster, otherwise his reputation is on the line.

Now get to work and create the script of your life. In all seriousness, this is a very effective means of assimilating the key components of the topic you are studying into your long-term memory.

First, you must prepare a written script for the topic you are studying. In fact it is even your responsibility to assign different actors to act out the scenes with you. However, like Eddie Murphy in “Coming to Americaâ€, Stephen Spielberg has requested that you role play all the other minor characters. In fact, I just got a text message from Stephen saying that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been removed from the script as their acting was somewhat sub par. I guess it looks as though you are the only star of the movie playing a multitude of roles.

Once you have laid out your study materials, simply begin be physically standing in front of a mirror and acting out every word with intense emotion, perfect annunciation (it actually doesn’t matter whether or not it’s perfect), with heart and pure passion that would make William Shakespeare proud.

This is probably one of the most entertaining and fun study strategies on the list that has a long lasting impact on your memory. You might even find it helpful to record your acting on a digital camera and later post it on YouTube for all to see. Wouldn’t that be something? 

3. Act as if Teaching Topic

Acting out the topic will yield greater results for a bodily-kinesthetic learner.

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• Prepare your notes about the topic, then simply stand up and pretend as though you are teaching this material to a group of students who have relatively no experience or understanding about this subject.
  
• At the end of the lecture, imagine questions the audience may ask.  Switch roles and answer the questions.
  
• Take to the stage and teach the topic for real!
  

4. Utilize Index Cards

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• Write out the main points and ideas on colored index cards that you can carry around with you wherever you go.
  
• Review the cards throughout the day when there is idle time (riding in a car, standing in line at the store, etc).
  
• Color is key.  Arrange cards by color to designate different topics or chapters.  Using symbols, pictures, graphics, diagrams, different colored pens and other memory enhancing materials may also sharpen your brain.
  
• Write out question on one side of the notecard with answers on the other side.
  

5. Move Body While Learning

Yes, physically moving your body while you’re learning will have profound results.

Behaviors that may respond well to moving while learning: quick to restlessness,, unable to sit still for more than 5 minutes, or losing focus when listening.

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• Walk around as notes/materials are being read
  
• Walking in a specific pattern will help zone out outside distractions
  

Walking isn’t the only movement that may help bodily-kinesthetic learners.  A recent study in Bangor, ME looked at the effects on learning by replacing traditional classroom seating with stability balls.  Read the full article. 

Here’s a quick recap of the 13 classrooms that participated in the study:

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• more than half of students were more able to sit still and stay on task, and showed improved posture after switching from a chair to a ball. 
  
• Students reported overall satisfaction with using the balls as chairs.
  
• About 80 percent of students improved their standardized test scores over the course of the year.
  

While it’s hard to imagine that something so simple as providing an exercise ball or allowing your child to wiggle, stand or walk can help your bodily-kinesthetic learner tremendously.  Isn’t is worth it?

Join me next week as we discuss study strategies for Musical Intelligence.

Happy studying!

The post 5 Study Strategies for Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence appeared first on ART Smart Parenting.