Different Learning Style Tips
Making Learning Happen More Effectively
Find out how your child learns best and how to more effectively teach to that learning style.
Children have different learning styles, and thus need to be taught differently. Use the following tips to help you know which learning style is dominant and how to help that child learn most effectively. Explain to him what kind of learner he is and how he learns best. Learning this information early on during the school years will be helpful when he is doing homework and studying independently later in life.
The Visual Learner
The visual learner is a child that enjoys reading/looking at books and pictures. She will enjoy things being in order where she can find things easily. When discussing a book, she can easily find the page being discussed, because she pictures things in her head. She will often be quiet, and will enjoy working on puzzles.
Tips for helping the visual learner include cleaning up and taking away visual distractions. You will need to work with her on one step at a time, since multiple spoken directions will often confuse her. Whenever possible write things down and demonstrate how to do things. Using color to organize information will help her keep things in order and remember information better.
Click here for more tips on helping the Visual Learner.
The Auditory Learner
The auditory learner is a child who talks a lot! He will enjoy telling jokes and stories, and remembers things that are spoken to him. He can memorize things easily, including all the words to songs that he hears.
Tips for helping the auditory learner include finding him a quiet place to work. He should be encouraged to read and study out loud. Correct spelling of words is most easily taught using the “say-spell-say” method. For example: HOUSE – H-O-U-S-E – HOUSE. Whenever possible, encourage spoken answers to questions instead of written answers. Using a tape recorder may help him take more accurate notes and allow more thorough studying.
Click here for more tips on helping the Auditory Learner.
The Kinesthetic Learner
The kinesthetic learner is a child who is often moving and likes to touch everything. She can easily take things apart and put them back together again. She will also be good at sports.
Tips for helping the kinesthetic learner include utilizing as many activities as possible that allow for movement while learning. As long as a task is being completed, allow for what may seem like excess movement. This may include standing at the desk or table to do homework, fiddling with a pencil, dancing in her seat, etc.
Use a clock or timer to help cue her to how long any given task should take to keep her focused. Following an active time, have a “calm down” period of time before attempting to move on to another task, and use manipulatives to help teach a concept. A manipulative is anything that a child can touch and move and manipulate, no matter how simple or complex.
Click here for more tips on helping the Kinesthetic learner.
Remember that learning styles are simply the way a child learns best, and learning how to work within that learning style will allow them to learn and retain more information.
Click here for more information on Learning Styles.
