Does your child sit on the edge of his seat listening to stories? He likes tapes and listening to things in the car. He may be distracted by visual stimuli but concentrates on listening when you’re speaking to him. The child that is an auditory learner can follow verbal instructions easily–you don’t have to bother with writing it down! Auditory learners are frequently gifted musicians being able to “play by ear”. They are also very sensitive to your tone and pitch when you speak, easily sensing frustration or anger.
Recognizing that your child learns best from auditory stimulation, is the easy part. What’s difficult is trying to figure out how to present things in a way that your child can process most easily. For teaching an auditory learner try these techniques:
1. A phonics approach to teaching reading will work very well for this child.
2. Encourage your child to talk to himself, especially while solving problems! It sounds funny but “thinking out loud” will help an auditory learner organize his thoughts and think more clearly.
3. Noises easily distract auditory learners and so activities that require head phones are great for the auditory learner.
4. The auditory learner does not need to look at you while you are teaching. He also doesn’t generally need to take detailed notes. He just needs to be able to listen to you without distractions.
5. Songs and rhymes are much more effective than flash cards for the auditory learner.
6. Give verbal instructions rather than relying on your child to read them for himself.
7. Reading out loud is an effective way to teach an auditory learner. Also, encourage him to read aloud while he is reading something on his own.
8. Consider looking into the Charlotte Mason method. A unique element of this method, narration, is particularly suited towards auditory learners.
9. Verbally praise the auditory learner frequently. For the auditory learner, verbal encouragement and praise is much better than a sticker or some other physical reward.
10. Have your child orally present information that he has learned. Auditory learners tend to be good speakers.
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