If you ever delved into the realm of learning, you stumbled upon the VAKT concept – Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Tactile. Well, buckle up because we’re not here to revisit that. Don’t get me wrong; VAKT is a gem, and I fount it very helpful and beneficial, but I’m all about that personalized approach. The real question on everyone’s mind is this: How do you, your students (yes, your kid counts!), learn like champs – quick, effective, and with memories that stick around longer than last night’s dreams?

School? Mostly smooth sailing for me. But oh, history! It was like trying to grasp smoke. The who-lived-when-where and dates were a blur. I based my test responses mostly on intuition. Yet, even in college, when faced with history’s daunting challenges, I found my way. Picture this:  the History of English Language exam, I, drowning in a sea of data, clung to one part that I found most fascinating. It was vaguely related to the specifics, but the examiner was impressed with my intro, “If only every student were as sharp as you,” he marveled. A+, baby! I was perplexed, and my face obviously showed it. As when I exited the examination room, my fellow students asked, You did not pass!?

Zoom ahead a few decades – I’m teaching, learning, and then my son enters the scene. Cue my intuitive dive into strategies I didn’t even know I had. If you’ve heard these before, give me a shout-out. I’m all about sharing the knowledge love.

No more beating around the bush. Let’s dive in!

Strategy #1

Make It Practical. Memorizing the Mendeleev table? Sure, if you’re headed for a career in chemistry. But for the rest of us? Nah. Here’s the trick: tie it to something you love. Art buff? Deck out that table with colors and doodles. Or turn it into a catchy tune if music’s your jam. Link boring info to exciting events for instant recall. Once your brain knows it’ll use it in the future, it’ll make an effort to remember.

Strategy #2

Baby Steps. Start big, then break it down. Tackle the toughest bits first; once conquered, the rest falls into place. I found it very helpful when mastering a new piano piece. I play it through, then focus on the tricky parts till they sing.  

Strategy #3

Tell the Tale. Reading a book? After reading a few pages, share it! Explain it in your own words, or record your thoughts. Engage that vocal power – it lights up your brain like a Christmas tree. 

Strategy #4

Visualize It. It’s very likely someone has already recorded what you need to see. Can’t find a video? Imagination is your best friend. Seek out images or create mental movies. Learning just got a whole lot more fun. 

Strategy #5

Teach It. Step into the teacher’s shoes. Someone out there needs what you know. Teaching flips the script on learning. Suddenly, that tricky subject isn’t so daunting anymore.  I found it quite enjoyable to teach my son math, though I am far from being an aficionado of the subject. I just enjoyed the process of teaching and picked up some new knowledge on the way.

And there you have it – my toolbox for smoother learning. Because why make it hard when it can be easy-breezy?