by Susan Lee |
In many classrooms, there are certain children who are bored tuned out and are unable to understand the lesson presented. This is not because the child is lazy or tired but because the classroom is not catering for that child's learning style or ability. He/she wants to learn but he/she finds it hard to.
The main learning styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Each child is able to learn in all these ways, but there is one particular style in which your child is strongest. This means that your child can learn better and this is mainly due to the way he/she is naturally gifted and wired.
Visual Learners
Visual learners need pictures and visual aids to help them remember and understand. They sometime even need to day dream to visualize and process the information that they are trying to grasp. Day dreaming is not a bad thing (that is another article coming up). To understand science, geography or history, they may need to enter into the terrain and area to feel and understand.
For example trying to understand the desert, they have to imagine the dryness and grit of the sand and cool of the desert night and imagination is a wonderful thing. Using audio visuals like videos can help them learn and retain information. Spatial skills accompany the visual learner so they also usually have a good sense of direction.
Visual learners like to read.
Visual learners take copious notes.
Visual learners often close their eyes to visualize or remember.
Visual learners are usually good spellers.
Visual learners like to see what they are reading.
Visual learners tend to value planning and organization.
Visual learners are meticulous, neat in appearance.
Visual learners notice details.
Visual learners find something to watch when bored.
Visual learners find quiet, passive surroundings ideal.
Antonio Maurice Daniels University of Wisconsin-Madison
https://revolutionarypaideia.com/2012/10/16/10-characteristics-of-visual-learners/
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners are able to remember information through the sense of sound. Usually they have difficult time recalling information that they have seen in reading materials. Their memory is better when they have heard something or some information. They may need to read out loud to remember better.
Using audio visuals like videos can help them learn and retain information too. You should talk to your child on what they have learned throughout the day. Sometimes, students record (read into a recording device) information to be played over to help remember facts for exams.
Auditory learners like to be read to.
Auditory learners sit where they can hear.
Auditory learners are most likely to read aloud or subvocalize when they read.
Auditory learners enjoy music.
Auditory learners acquire information primarily through sound.
Auditory learners are easily distracted by noises.
Auditory learners may not coordinate colors or clothes, but can explain what they are wearing and why.
Auditory learners enjoy listening activities.
Auditory learners enjoy talking.
Auditory learners hum or talk to themselves or others when bored.
Antonio Maurice Daniels University of Wisconsin-Madison
https://revolutionarypaideia.com/2012/10/15/10-characteristics-of-auditory-learners/
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners receive information best through tactile and experiential ways.
They learn really well by doing and feeling. If they are just given a visual aid or are being lectured, they will find it had to grasp that fact or concept until they actually go through it and experience it. This way, sitting in a classroom may not be the best learning place for them.
Kinesthetic learners remember facts and information through experiences and by actually doing things.
Kinesthetic learners learn through touching and doing, for example science experiments, field trips and visits to farm, museums, zoo et cetera.
Kinesthetic learners get bored easily with reading materials and lectures.
They want to "touch, move and do" in order to learn.
Kinesthetic learners use a lot of movement and activities in the learning process, for example acting in dramas, participating in sports or dance.
A young kinesthetic learner will need to use educational toys and puzzles.
In learning math, the learning process should utilize beads, marbles, counting beans or tiny stones/pebbles (you can find some sold for aquariums in pet shops). When cutting a cake or when having a pizza lunch, the pieces of cake or pizza can be used for teaching fractions. In teaching letters and words, use cutout letters and of words and flash cards. They can be made into a game.
The kinesthetic learner can also use drama and role play with any information they have to learn.
I believe that by knowing and utilizing these learning methods, you will find your child excited about learning and will improve and succeed in his/her education.