421. Embrace Your Unique Learning Style

Mira was already leaning toward becoming an educator because of the influence of her father, a college professor beloved by his students. “He was an amazing role model for me as he was always counseling and helping students. He did it with humor in a way that didn’t highlight a student ‘s mistakes.  I always liked working with kids. Having my father’s model of seeing what is right about people versus what is wrong was pretty amazing.” After her father died during her junior year in college, she saw an outpouring of affection and respect from the many students whose lives he had affected. She committed to becoming an educator, with a special focus on childhood development.

Our daughter was eager to set the world on fire by becoming a teacher. So, to hear from her daughter’s school that she was not college material was heartbreaking. “I saw that passion in her, and that struck something in me. My husband and I decided we were going to work this out. We told her, ‘We are going to figure out a way to be able to help you realize your success.’” Today her daughter teaches highly gifted students. The experience of dealing with the negative assessment of their daughter led Mira to become a “Mom on a Mission” to help other families as well. Her husband left his corporate job to join her in the work.

“If you recognize that you do things in your own particular way that isn’t the same as everybody else, that is OK, especially if you are happy and feel great doing it. If you know this about yourself, go ahead and own it. As adults in our work, we think we are supposed to be working hard versus working at something we love to do. But when people are doing something they love, they lose track of time. I’m reminded of this whenever I see the spontaneous ‘Aha!’ smile on a kid’s face—and see their anxiety go away—when they’ve suddenly discovered they can do something they’ve been struggling with. Then, it becomes fun and they love it.”

1.    Don’t let a negative assessment stop you in your tracks or defeat you. Learn about your uniqueness and own it.

2.   Recognize that one size doesn’t fit all, and that there is no single, exclusive way of learning and living life.

3.   Find and learn from inspirational role models and mentors.

4.   Don’t be afraid of swimming against the tide if you know you can offer another, perhaps better way.

Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual-Spatial Learner, by Linda Kreger Silverman

Success By 3rd Grade: How Parents Can Make the Difference. by Mira Stulberg Halpert and Mark Halpert
The 3D Learner: Transform Stress to Outrageous Success for Your Child, by Mira Halpert and Mark Halpert