On of my favorite classes in college was a class that focused on educational psychology. I was fascinated by the different learning styles among children and adults. Little did I know then that I would be using what I was learning to benefit my own children during the homeschooling years. Understanding the different learning styles and being able to discern the learning styles among my children has helped me provide a proper educational atmosphere for them. Recognizing a learning style and teaching style conflict saved my child from a life of never being able to spell. My method of teaching did not fit her way of learning thus we had nothing but failed tests and misunderstanding. Once we were in sync everything changed to an A+ atmostphere.
Your child will likely be a mix of these basic styles. To determine your child’s basic learning style, you can take an inventory online or through simple observation.
Visual: Learners who fall into this category depend on visual stimuli and are imaginative. They learn best through visual presentations, such as movies, graphs, demonstrations, props, maps and illustrations. Visual students work well with graphic organizers. Color coding or highlighting is one way to engage this learner. Visual learners enjoy artistic pursuits.
Auditory: An auditory learner learns best through discussions, debates, and talks. These learners can benefit from reading aloud or taping a lesson to listen to later. Music is a major interest, and music can help with memorization. An auditory student is well suited for giving presentations, teaching and speaking.
Kinesthetic: These learners are hands on and physical. They need to touch it and work with it to understand it. Sitting still can be a challenge, so frequent breaks or learning while standing may help. You may even want to sit across from your child and throw a small ball back and forth while you explain a lesson. They may appear to lack in concentration, but what they need is to explore and move while learning.
