Provision of appropriate learning environments and experiences is vital in attempting to overcome underachieving behaviour patterns and encourage achievement.
Encouraging achievement in underachieving students is frequently a difficult task. Very few gifted students show underachieving behaviours prior to commencing formal schooling; most are naturally curious and willing learners. Underachievement usually results from the complex interplay on a number of contributing factors and may be the result of long term, well-established values, expectations and patterns of behaviour. Underachievement appears to be a learned response to a variety of influences in a child's life experiences and as such may be difficult to counteract. When developing strategies to encourage achievement teachers need to consider all factors known to be contributing to an individual's underachievement.
This web site provides comprehensive links to information, strategies and external links on information relating to providing a differentiated curriculum including enrichment, extension and acceleration; learning experiences, teaching and learning models; approaches and strategies and a range of suggested activities for practical use in the classroom.
These links will take you to pages concerned with theories of teaching and learning, many of which include practical strategies for classroom use. Enjoy browsing these pages and selecting what may work for you and your students.
Explorations in Learning and Instruction
The Theory Into Practice Database (TIP) is a tool intended to make learning and instructional theory more accessible to educators. The database contains brief summaries of 50 major theories of learning and instruction. These theories can also be accessed by learning domains and concepts.
Learning Disabilities Research Community (LDRC)
Follow the links to Learning to Learn - for learners, teachers, and researchers. It teaches the value of self-awareness as a critical part of learning. It's a course, a resource, and a source of knowledge about learning, how it can be developed in children and adults, and how it differs among learners.
Learning Paths
Learning Styles. Learning Strategies. Learner Autonomy. Learning Paths is a dual Italian/English language site that aims to help the process of self-discovery by providing materials and references. Special Activities, strategic lesson plans, surveys and questionaires are some of the sites key features.
Learning Styles - R.M Felder
What is your prefered learning style? (active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global) The Index of Learning Styles link gives access to an online questionnaire for assessing learning preferences on four of the five dimensions of the Felder-Silverman model.
Leslie Owen Wilson's homepage
This site includes a wide variety of materials dealing with education, educational reform and issues which pertain to topical areas in curriculum development, creativity, theories of learning, and educational psychology. This is a MUST VISIT site! A wealth of useful information and inspirational. Browse here extensively!
Encouraging Achievement - Gifted Education Resources: EAGER