A New World of Learning

Four Impactful Learning Strategies for Student Success

Life has been altered all over the world. Globally, one major concern: Education.

The big question now:

How can educators assist both parents and students in taking on this challenging monstrosity?

Over the past six weeks of virtual learning, I have offered many strategies to students and parents for making the transition more fluid and individualised for success. I am sharing four strategies that I have found most impactful with my students. What is so unique and powerful with these strategies is that each one focuses on the individual learner discovering their productivity, potential and habits. Ultimately, they are learning skills and habits to become more of a personalised learner.

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Strategic Procrastination

Let’s face it. When faced with a deadline to complete a project it is very easy to push it off until tomorrow. Or the day after. And, why not the day after that? Before you know it the due date has come and gone….and you have nothing to hand in. Procrastination wins and productivity loses.

Although, what if I told you that procrastination can be advantageous….would you believe me? Procrastination, when done effectively, leads to divergent thinking and creating new ideas for projects and assignments. It does not mean that you wait until the last minute to complete a task; instead, you allow the gears in your brain to work by conjuring up thoughts, ideas and new insights on how to make the project more creative.

The habit of thinking flexibly comes into play within this strategy by allowing yourself to generate alternative thinking and procrastinate effectively.

The Power of When: Discovering Your Chronotype

Talk about Metacognition……this is it! By identifying your chronotype you are able to better recognise feelings, strategies, thoughts, and actions. Moreover, identifying the “when” of your most effective self – that being the “peak” – the more you can adapt your schedule for a better you. As everyone is figuring out this new wave of virtual learning it is equally important to solidify a schedule that sets you up for optimal success.

Mindful Hyperfocus

When mindful in displaying the habit of persisting – one’s ability to stick to a task until completion – ultimately could determine success or failure. Yes, taking breaks and strategic procrastination is important; although, when in actual work mode, your mind and energy should be focused on one thing only: The task at hand.

Keep it simple and straightforward. Here is the process:

• Select an assignment/activity you believe calls for complete focus and commitment in order to be successful.

• Select a time reasonable where full mental and physical energy can be devoted.

• Set a timer for starting and stopping points.

• Get all distractions out of sight and out of mind. Take a minute to get focused, find a spot in your house for most effective output, get set… and begin.

• When time begins you solely focus on this one activity/ assignment…nothing else!

• When time ends, take a break. Then, transition to another activity.

The Walking Classroom

By physically changing a learning environment, one can eliminate distractions, increase focus, and offer opportunity to engage in a different way of thinking. A simple walk around the neighborhood, or a nature trail, along with some material
to review can make for a unique and effective learning experience. Research shows that incorporating movement into a daily learning regimen increases retention of information, keeps the mind active and clear and boosts energy for learning. Below is an example of incorporating the Walking Classroom into this at-home learning experience.

• Select a topic for the walk.

• Set a time limit for your walk and keep it intentional.

• Make expectations clear and direct for yourself and a partner (if they chose to join you physically or by phone).

• Have questions ready for asking yourself or a friend.

• Keep the habit Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision on your mind.

• Great activities for this walk include vocabulary review, brainstorming, comprehension questioning and listening to teacher lectures. Once a week I assign a 20-30 minute podcast for students to listen to on their walk. Later in our Zoom meeting, we discuss and reflect on the ideas, themes, take-aways and share perspectives.

• Finding Your New World

The most important pieces I have noticed in navigating this new world are the abilities within students to be self- directed, productive in behaviours, reflective, persistent and individualistic in the learning. By learning more about themselves and learning styles they have provided nothing but success. I am grateful and enamoured by my students’ behaviours and self-exploration of themselves as learners.

Stay safe, productive, healthy, mindful, optimistic and most importantly, find the pieces that fit you as a learner.

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DrDanielVollrath


Dr Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D.
Dr Daniel Vollrath, Ed.D. (@HabitsofMindInc) is a special education teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, and a United States Professional Development Trainer for the Habits of Mind Institute. As a current educational leader within the classroom, Daniel’s best practices, strategies, goals, classroom culture and interactions with students with a learning disability are centered around the Habits of Mind.
For more information contact him at:
danvollrath44@gmail.com