Brain-Based Learning: Core Principle 4

The fourth core principle of brain based learning:

The search for meaning comes through patterning.

Woo-hoo! This applies to my two year old Ty in every way. He tries to find a pattern in everything, everywhere. When we arrive in a doctor's building, we go to the fourth floor for Za's physical therapy and not to the first floor for the allergist? Why? He wants a pattern. The tall building means physical therapy and playing with the balls, not the boring allergist.

As children grow, they pattern in different ways. There are many approaches to learning one concept. The more you know, the easier it is to learn new concepts. Substitute "pattern" in that common phrase now. The more you pattern, the easier it is to pattern new concepts. Our minds build on each other. I know that when I start a writing assignment, I make a pattern between paragraphs and ideas by writing a list. Others may make a web, an outline, a cause and effect sheet, and on and on. Our patterning methods are different because of our individual experiences. 

How does your child pattern? Smaller children probably hide their attempts to pattern less than older children. Older children do this by looking for people's behavioral patterns. Do they do it with their schoolwork? How?