Auditory, kinesthetic, visual—you’ve probably heard these terms before. They are the three main types of learning styles and can influence how your child does in school and at home. Most people usually fall into one category, with a little overlap occasionally. Sometimes your child doesn’t learn like you at all. Maybe you are a kinesthetic learner, and he or she is a visual learner. Learning what style your child prefers can help in many areas and is important for their long-term success.
“It is important for parents and teachers to know and respect each student's learning styles, because those are the tools they will use to learn throughout the rest of their lives,” Susan Lynn, mother of three and Spanish teacher at Liberty North High School, says. “It is our job to help them get the most out of how their brains work.”
“I try to cover all of the types of learning in my classroom. I lecture for those that need to hear it as well as review it at the beginning and end of every day. I provide handouts, notes on Blackboard and an online textbook for those that need to read it; I show video clips, act things out, do hand gestures and other activities and labs for those that are visual and kinesthetic,” Misty Black, mother of two and science teacher at Liberty North High School, says.
Lynn also mentions that sometimes it is good to challenge a child to learn outside his comfort zone. “Current brain research seems to show that we also benefit a lot from things we struggle to learn. Easily learned things are also easily forgotten, but if learning it was a challenge, it sticks with us better,” Lynn says.
Studies also have shown that boys and girls learn differently. Recognizing early on the differences between your children can help you in assisting them with their schoolwork and chores at home.
Once you have determined the learning styles of your children, here are some tips to help them learn the best way possible:
Auditory:
- Listen to audio books, or have someone read the textbook to them.
- Have them explain answers to you.
- Create mnemonic devices that they say out loud for memorization.
- Watch You Tube videos or listen to podcasts on a particular lesson.
- Participate in group discussions where they have to explain their answers.
Kinsethic:
- Do hands-on activities, such as sculpting, building, playing.
- Create a song, rap or a dance to help review a certain idea.
- Study in short breaks; don’t try to sit still too long.
- Use flash cards to help memorize concepts.
- Use objects to help with math: If you have 6 cookies and take away 4, how many are left?
Visual:
- Ask for handouts and notes in paper form; most teachers are happy to share notes.
- Make charts, graphs, timelines, etc. to help remember information.
- Use flash cards so that information is presented visually.
- Draw a picture to represent a concept.
- Use color-coded highlighters for notes in class.
Take this quick quiz to discover your child’s learning style
1. You want to spend quality time with your child, so you ask her what type of game she’d like to play with you. She’s most likely to recommend:
a) A fun word game.
b) An active game.
c) A video game.
2. You’re having an important conversation with your child about the importance of not getting into the car with strangers. While you’re talking, your child is most likely to:
a) Listen to you without budging.
b) Not be able to give you her full attention.
c) Watch your lips moving and your gesticulations.
3. Your child is learning the alphabet. During this crucial learning phase, he is most likely to practice his ABCs by:
a) Singing the alphabet
b) Playing with letter-shaped blocks.
c) Writing the alphabet.
4. Your child has just solved a jigsaw puzzle and is very proud of herself. She is most likely to:
a) Run and tell you about it.
b) Take the puzzle apart so that you can watch her put it back together again.
c) Call you in to show you the finished product.
5. During your child’s alone time, he is most likely to:
a) Watch TV.
b) Play a game.
c) Read a book or write a story.
.
Mostly A answers: You’ve got an auditory learner.
Mostly B answers: You’ve got a kinesthetic learner.
Mostly C answers: You’ve got a visual learner.
Quiz from http://Parenting.Quiz.kAboose.com
Jennifer Higgins is a free-lance writer, mother and teacher from Kearney, MO. She is primarily a visual learner.