Learning Compass Slides
9th Grade Advisory
PA Standard 13.1.9-12.E
Learning Compass
Unlocking how you learn, describing your cognitive strengths, and mapping your pathway to school and community career opportunities.
VARK Styles
Seeing, hearing, reading, doing
Partner Dialogue
Own-words explanation
Career Readiness
CTC, internships, and clubs
Today's Advisory Objectives
Clear Targets
By the end of today's 60-minute advisory session, you will be able to say:
1
Concept Comprehension
"I can describe the 4 major learning styles (Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, Kinesthetic) in my own words."
2
Self-Identification & Strategy
"I can identify my own learning style preferences and select practical study strategies for my classes."
3
Career Awareness (PA 13.1.9-12.E)
"I can connect my learning style to school- and community-based opportunities (CTC, job shadows, clubs)."
You will demonstrate mastery on your Reflective Formative Exit Ticket at the end of class.
Advisory Bell Ringer: Game On!
Warm-Up: 5 Mins
You get a complex new video game or download an unfamiliar app. What is your natural first instinct?
Option A: The Watcher
Look up a YouTube walkthrough or Twitch stream to visually inspect maps and gameplay.
Option B: The Listener
Hop on Discord or FaceTime and say, "Talk me through how this works and what to do."
Option C: The Reader
Read the written controls menu, check wiki strategies, or scan the official patch guide.
Option D: The Experimenter
Skip all guides immediately. Mash buttons, experiment live, and learn through trial and error.
Action: Write your letter in the Warm-Up Box on your worksheet, then share with your elbow partner!
Demystifying Learning Styles
Foundation
Core Concept:
A learning style is a preferred cognitive channel for absorbing, organizing, and recalling information. It describes how you engage, not how smart you are.
Preferences (True)
- • A personal toolkit to boost study efficiency.
- • Flexible: Most people are multimodal.
- • Helps you advocate for your learning needs.
Labels (False)
- • Never an excuse: "I can't read because I'm kinesthetic."
- • Not a permanent box or limitation.
- • Does not lock you into or out of any career.
Mastering your learning style empowers you to translate hard classes into your brain's language.
The VARK Compass: Visual & Auditory
Styles 1 & 2
Visual (Seeing)
Absorbs diagrams, colors, and layout
Classroom Strategy:
Highlighters, mind-maps, timelines, flowcharts, video graphics.
Career Connections:
Architect, UI/UX Designer, CAD Drafter, Medical Imaging, Filmmaker.
💡 Signature: "Let me sketch it out to see the big picture."
Auditory (Hearing)
Absorbs speech, discussions, and sound
Classroom Strategy:
Study group talk, verbal quizzing, podcasts, voice notes, rhyming recall.
Career Connections:
Attorney, Audio Engineer, Counselor, Speech Pathologist, Journalist.
💡 Signature: "Say that out loud again so I can process it."
Both styles reach high achievement—they simply utilize different senses.
The VARK Compass: Read/Write & Kinesthetic
Styles 3 & 4
Reading / Writing
Absorbs text, definitions, and written lists
Classroom Strategy:
Rewriting notes, making flashcards, annotating text, bullet summaries.
Career Connections:
Paralegal, Technical Writer, Policy Analyst, Editor, Research Scientist.
💡 Signature: "Let me write that down in my notebook to lock it in."
Kinesthetic (Doing)
Absorbs physical touch, movement, and trial
Classroom Strategy:
Lab experiments, building models, physical flashcard sorting, pacing.
Career Connections:
Electrician, Physical Therapist, Chef, Mechanical Engineer, Welder.
💡 Signature: "Hand me the equipment—let me try doing it myself."
Combine styles: You can read technical steps (R) while physically building a project (K).
Worksheet Time: Describe & Identify
Pacing: 15 Minutes
1
Part 1: In Your Own Words
On Page 1 of your worksheet, write what each of the 4 styles means in everyday student language. Avoid copying definitions word-for-word!
"Visual means I need pictures; Auditory means I need to hear it..."
2
Part 2: Self-Inventory
Read Scenarios 1–4. Circle your authentic reaction [V, A, R, or K]. Then tally your scores in the Compass Scorecard to reveal your primary or multimodal profile.
Tally: V: __ / 4 | A: __ / 4 | R: __ / 4 | K: __ / 4
Silent, focused work. Your advisor will circulate to answer questions.
PA Standard 13.1.9-12.E: Career Opportunities
Career Bridge
Utilize school- and community-based opportunities to test your learning style in the real world:
Career & Technical Centers (CTC)
Kinesthetic & Visual: Hands-on technical programs like Mechatronics, Automotive, Cosmetology, and Welding.
Job Shadow Days
Visual & Auditory: Spend a morning observing professionals in healthcare, digital marketing, law, or engineering.
School Clubs & Student Orgs
Auditory & Kinesthetic: Speech & Debate, Mock Trial, Robotics, FBLA, SkillsUSA, and Stage Crew.
Community Internships & Volunteering
Read/Write & Multimodal: Non-profit writing, library archiving, peer tutoring, and youth mentoring programs.
As a 9th grader, now is the time to explore opportunities before scheduling sophomore courses!
Partner Collaboration Protocol
Pacing: 10 Minutes
Round 1 (4 Mins)
Partner A Shares
1. Top Style: "My primary preference was [Style], and I agree because..."
2. Own-Words Definition: How did you describe it?
3. Career Opportunity: Which PA 13.1.E opportunity appeals to you?
Partner B Listens: Records partner's style and key study tip in Part 3.
Round 2 (4 Mins)
Partner B Shares
1. Top Style: "My primary preference was [Style], and I agree because..."
2. Own-Words Definition: How did you describe it?
3. Career Opportunity: Which PA 13.1.E opportunity appeals to you?
Partner A Listens: Records partner's style and key study tip in Part 3.
Last 2 minutes: Write down your partner's top study tip on Page 2 of your worksheet.
Reflective Formative Exit Ticket
Assessment: 6 Mins
Demonstrate your understanding on the Exit Ticket Mini Assessment:
1
Own-Words Check
Explain how an Auditory learner and a Kinesthetic learner prepare for the exact same test.
2
Self-Profile & Habit
State your primary style and commit to one study strategy you will test this week.
3
Career Opportunity
Identify one CTC program, club, or community opportunity (PA 13.1.E) you will investigate.
Complete your Exit Ticket slip and turn it in as you leave advisory today!
Advisory Wrap-Up
Learning Compass Worksheet
9th Grade Advisory | Personal Blueprint
Learning Compass: Style Discovery
PA Career Standard 13.1.9-12.E
Career Awareness & Prep
Name:
Date:
Advisor:
Period:
🎯 Student Targets: 1. Describe 4 styles in own words • 2. Identify my personal style profile • 3. Connect style to PA 13.1.E career opportunities
★ Advisory Bell Ringer: The New Game Dilemma (First 5 Mins) Individual Reflection
You get a new game or complex app. What is your instinct? Circle one: [A] Watch tutorial video • [B] Ask someone to explain • [C] Read written guide • [D] Mash buttons & experiment
Why does this option feel most natural to you?
1 Part 1: Describe the 4 Learning Styles in Your Own Words
No textbook definitions—use everyday student words.
Visual (Seeing) Diagrams, color, layout
In my own words:
Auditory (Listening) Discussion, lectures, speech
In my own words:
Read / Write (Text) Bullet notes, lists, articles
In my own words:
Kinesthetic (Doing) Hands-on, labs, movement
In my own words:
2 Part 2: Learning Style Discovery Inventory
Circle the ONE letter [V, A, R, or K] that fits you best.
1. When studying for an exam in Science or History, you remember best when:
[V] Reviewing color-coded charts and maps
[A] Talking through questions out loud with a friend
[R] Rewriting notes, making summaries, or flashcards
[K] Pacing while quizzing or using real physical objects
2. When learning to use a new software tool or game, you prefer to:
[V] Watch a video tutorial of screen clicks
[A] Have a friend talk you through it verbally
[R] Read the written guide, FAQ, or patch notes
[K] Click around and experiment directly until it works
3. When someone gives you directions to a new place in town, you prefer:
[V] A drawn route or visual map with landmarks
[A] Spoken turn-by-turn directions read aloud
[R] Written street names and highway exit numbers
[K] Traveling the route yourself once to get the feel
4. In high school classes, what holds your focus best?
[V] Slide graphics, video clips, and timelines
[A] Lively class discussions, debates, and lectures
[R] Structured reading packets, articles, and handouts
[K] Hands-on labs, building models, and simulations
Learning Compass Facilitator Guide
Advisor Facilitator Guide
Learning Compass: Facilitator Blueprint
60-Minute Advisory Plan
PA Standard 13.1.9-12.E
Grade: 9th Advisory
Duration: 60 Minutes
Materials: Slides, Worksheet, Exit Slip
Output: Formative Career Artifact
Student Learning Objectives ("I Can" Statements)
- Objective 1: "I can describe the 4 VARK styles in my own words."
- Objective 2: "I can identify my own learning style profile and study habits."
- Objective 3: "I can connect my style to PA 13.1.E school & community career paths."
Neuromyth Clarification Note
Learning styles are cognitive preferences, not rigid genetic boxes. Encourage multimodal flexibility: students should use their dominant style as a bridge to tackle challenging material, not as an excuse to avoid non-preferred formats.
Lesson Facilitation Timeline (Part 1: Minutes 00–35)
00–08 Min | Objectives Launch & Bell Ringer (Slides 1–3) Bell Ringer
Have Slide 3 projected as students enter. Students independently complete the Advisory Bell Ringer box at the top of Page 1 (New Game Dilemma). Read aloud the 3 Student Learning Objectives on Slide 2.
Facilitator Question: "Raise your hand if you circled Option D (Mash buttons). How does that trial-and-error approach differ from Option A (Watching Twitch)?"
08–20 Min | VARK Framework & Real-World Translation (Slides 4–6) 12 Minutes
Unpack the 4 styles: Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic. Contrast classroom study techniques with adult workplace tasks (e.g., blueprints vs. debates vs. code docs vs. surgery/welding).
Check for Understanding: "If your teacher lectures for 40 minutes with no slides, what self-advocacy strategy could a visual learner use?" (Sketch-noting, drawing graphic organizers).
20–35 Min | Own-Words Definitions & Compass Inventory (Slide 7) 15 Minutes
Students complete Part 1 (describing styles in their own words, 4 mins) and Part 2 (Discovery Inventory scenarios 1–4, 8 mins), then tally their Compass Scorecard.
Circulation Cue: Students with balanced scores are multimodal. Affirm this: "Having balanced styles is a superpower—you can adapt to almost any teaching environment."
Learning Compass Facilitator Guide • Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Page 2 for Partner Protocol & Exit Ticket Assessment
Learning Compass Exit Ticket
✓
Learning Compass: Exit Ticket Mini Assessment
Formative Check • PA Career Standard 13.1.9-12.E
9th Grade Advisory
Name:
Date:
Period:
1. Own-Words Check (Obj. 1): Contrast two styles without textbook jargon
Explain how an Auditory learner and a Kinesthetic learner would approach studying for the exact same exam differently:
2. Self-Profile & Study Commitment (Obj. 2): Personal academic application
My primary learning preference is . One specific study strategy I will use this week in class is:
3. School / Community Career Opportunity (PA 13.1.9-12.E): CTC, Job Shadow, Clubs
Name one school or community career opportunity you plan to explore that aligns with your learning style, and explain why:
Self-Rating: Circle: 1 (Need Help) • 2 (Developing) • 3 (Proficient) • 4 (Mastery)
Advisor Check: [ ] Exceeds [ ] Meets [ ] Review
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut Here (Two Slips Per Page) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
✓
Learning Compass: Exit Ticket Mini Assessment
Formative Check • PA Career Standard 13.1.9-12.E
9th Grade Advisory
Name:
Date:
Period:
1. Own-Words Check (Obj. 1): Contrast two styles without textbook jargon
Explain how an Auditory learner and a Kinesthetic learner would approach studying for the exact same exam differently:
2. Self-Profile & Study Commitment (Obj. 2): Personal academic application
My primary learning preference is . One specific study strategy I will use this week in class is:
3. School / Community Career Opportunity (PA 13.1.9-12.E): CTC, Job Shadow, Clubs
Name one school or community career opportunity you plan to explore that aligns with your learning style, and explain why:
Self-Rating: Circle: 1 (Need Help) • 2 (Developing) • 3 (Proficient) • 4 (Mastery)
Advisor Check: [ ] Exceeds [ ] Meets [ ] Review
