discover my childs learning style

8/14/2019 Discover My Childs Learning Style

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Discover My Child's

Learning Style

Compiled by:


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Table of Contents

Help Me Motivate My Visual Learner

Help Me Motivate My Auditory Learner

Help Me Motivate My Kinesthetic Learner

Find Educational Family Activities to Interest My Visual Learner

Find Educational Family Activities to Interest My Auditory Learner

Find Educational Family Activities to Interest My Kinesthetic Learner

Boys and Girls Have Different Learning Styles

Types of Learning Styles

What Is My Child's Learning Style?

www.EduGuide2 ONLINE EDUGUIDE


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Discover My Child's Learning StyleDo I need this EduGuide?

Yes, if you would like to figure out what your childs learning style is and how you can use that information to help your child learn as

efficiently and effectively as possible.

How does it work?

l Quizzes help you know where you stand.

l Articles give you the background information you need to make a decision.

l ShortCuts help you take immediate action. Choose one or go through them all.

What will I learn from this EduGuide?

l What the term learning style means

l How the three learning styles differ

l What my childs learning style is

l How I can help my child learn by using his or her learning style strengths

l Which whole-family educational activities will benefit each learning style most

Quick Solutions

l What can I do in thirty minutes? Read the articles Types of Learning Styles: What Is Your Childs Learning Style? and Boys

and Girls Have Different Learning Styles.

l What can I do in do in half a day? Try a motivational learning suggestion or educational family activity described in the

ShortCuts.

l What can I do in a week:? Have your child continue incorporating learning style suggestions into his or her study routines

l What can I do in a month? With your child, evaluate the effectiveness of the learning style tips and make changes as

necessary.

http://www.eduguide.org/Parents/Library/Detail/tabid/304/id/1613/Different-Learning-Types-Gender.aspxhttp://www.eduguide.org/Parents-Library/Types-of-Learning-Styles-2305.aspx


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Help Me Motivate My Visual LearnerEduGuide Staff

Visual learners feel less frustrated and more motivated when they incorporate seeing into their studies. As a parent, you can use this

knowledge to help your child focus on the strengths of his visual learning style to maximize his learning potentialeven in subjects he

previously struggled with.

Try some of these visual learning style strategies to boost your students comprehension and retention:

l Use color. Buy a rainbow of colored, fine-point markers, pencils, and highlighters. When your kid takes notes, encourage him

to use different colored pens for different concepts. Write spelling words (phthalates), formulas (E=MC), or key concepts (19th

Amendment) three times: first in red, then in purple, and finally in blue. Encourage him to highlight important passages and

points in stand-out shades such as neon pink.

l Look at the pictures first. Before he reads a passage from his textbook, suggest that he go through and look at all the

pictures, diagrams, and charts in the chapter and try to determine what points they are illustrating. When he reads the chapter,

picturing the illustrations will help him remember key concepts. Of the three primary learning styles (auditory, visual, and

kinesthetic), visual learners get the most out of this tip.

l Use flashcards. Flashcards can help boost retention in your visual learner. Suggest he use them for math facts, vocabulary, or

anything else he needs to memorize. For history class, write dates on one side of the card and the key points about those

dates on the other side.

l See with the minds eye. Challenge your student to visualize key facts or spelling words in his head when hes trying to

memorize them.

l Take notes. Encourage your child to write down explanations for points that are difficult to understand at first. By taking notes

and seeing the information in different colors, he will clarify concepts and memorize them more readily.

l Sit in front. Help your child pay closer attention during lectures by suggesting that he keep his eye on the teachers at all times.

l Get it in writing. Tell your student, If your teacher writes it on the board, write it in your notes. Prompt your visual learner to ask

the teacher to repeat verbal directions or supply written directions whenever possible.



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Help Me Motivate My Auditory LearnerEduGuide Staff

Auditory learners process and remember information best when they hear it and repeat it. You can use this knowledge to help your

auditory learner customize her study habits. By recognizing her learning type and focusing on her strengths, you can help her

succe edeven in subjects she struggled with previously.

Try some of these teacher-tested learning styles strategies to help your auditory learner boost her comprehension and retention.

l Read aloud and repeat. Have your child use a highlighter to mark key concepts in handouts, textbooks, and written

instructions. Then have her read the highlighted material aloud. When she needs to memorize factslike the parts of a cell or

spelling wordsask her to repeat the facts aloud to you several times. At school, encourage her to volunteer to read aloud to

the class or a learning partner.

l Record and review. To boost retention, have your child record lectures on a hand-held tape recorder. (Get the teachers

permission first). She can then review material at home, while riding in the car, etc. If she takes written notes, have her read

them into the recorder and play them back to improve comprehension. She can also tape herself reading chapters from her

textbooks and then listen to the tape to review.

l Discuss. Challenge your child to explain new concepts to you. If shes studying photosynthesis, ask her questions like What

role does the sun play? When she has required reading for English class, prompt her to retell the main points of the story,

poem, or essay in her own words.

l Practice word association. Encourage your child to use rhymes, acronyms, and jingles to help recall facts more easily, like In

1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue or Roy G. Biv (the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and

violet).

l Use audiotapes and CDs. Have her ask the local librarian if a required book is available on tape. Tip: To increase

comprehension, have her follow the text as she listens to the book.

l

Participate. Urge your child to participate in class discussions and debates as well as ask questions during lectures to clarifyconcepts. Also, encourage your child to join study groups or find a study partner so she can discuss materials with peers.

l Go to the head of the class. Remind your child to sit in the front of the class so she can hear easily and stay focused on the

teacher. Of the three primary learning styles (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic), auditory learners get the most out of this tip.

l Ask for help. Encourage your child to ask friends and family members to quiz her orally as she prepares for tests. Or

encourage her to ask her teacher to explain written concepts orally to boost comprehension and retention.



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l To build your childs vocabulary and improve spelling skills, play fun word games like Scrabble, Boggle, Yahtzee, and

Pictionary This healthy competition will build test-taking skills and provide fun for the whole family.

l Puzzle books boost brain power and give a sense of mastery . Solving all kinds of mazes, rebuses, crosswords, and word

finds broadens skills.

Visit Museums, Art Galleries, Aquariums, and Botanical Gardens

Attend exhibits together. Ask your child to choose a display or piece of art that he particularly likes then ask him to write a short essay

or poem expressing how he feels about it. If he is artistic, encourage him to copy a painting in the style of the artist and then in his ownstyle. If you go to botanical gardens, your child can sketch what he likes or take pictures that reflect his interests.

Family Historian

l Encourage your child to take snapshots of friends, family, vacations, and home life.

l Help her create photo albums or scrapbooks and encourage her to write captions or draw cartoons to highlight her

adventures.

l On family trips ask him to capture the event in words or pictures (or both). It is wonderful to have a permanent record year

by year of the fun things you did together. Create a travel journal or family newspaper to chronicle the trip. Remind him to record

some funny little things that make family vacations memorable (like the time Dad locked the keys in the car.)

l If you send holiday cards as a family, ask your visual learner to write an account of the years events and select pictures to

illustrate them.

Plot a Course

When taking an unfamiliar route, have your child draw a map and use it together to guide you to your final destination. Before a trip or

visit to relatives, have your child read up on the places you will see on the way and share what she learned with the family.



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Find Educational Family Activities to Interest My Auditory LearnerEduGuide Staff

Like most involved parents, you want to choose meaningful learning styles activities to make learning come alive for your whole family.

Though you cant always plan around the needs of your auditory learner, here are some fun family activities that promote auditory skills

and will enrich all members of the family.

Take the Whole Family to the Library

Your public library is a terrific resource for learning styles activities. Libraries are getting creative in their efforts to reach young people

and are offering many programs that cater to auditory learners. Get everyone in the family a library card to use regularly.

l Reference librarians love to answer your questions (its their job). Ask them what kids are reading today and who are the

hottest young adult authors. They can guide you through the process of finding just the right title for your reader.

l Help your auditory learner check out audio books both to reinforce his classroom lessons and for simple enjoyment. Some

of the Judy Blume classics are still relevant today like the classic Are You There God Its Me Margaretor S.E. Hintons The

Outsiders.

l To improve her conversation skills, ask her relevant questions about the book she is listening to. Listen to her book

yourself if you can, or better yet listen to it together while washing dishes, crafting, or riding in the car. If you are short of time,

check out the CliffsNotes so you can discuss the characters and plot together. Ask her to explain the main points to you and

her feelings about them.

l Encourage her to learn something new and have fun doing it. Sign up for noteworthy lectures the library offers just for young

people: for example, babysitting, how to find a summer job, SAT prep, or how to write the all-important college essay. You can

get a schedule of upcoming events at the reference desk or online.

Make Music Together

Studies show that listening to music primes the brain to learn. But making music is even more educational (not to mention fun). If you

arent particularly musical, you can have a karaoke night and encourage your child to be a rock star. If performing isnt your thing, try

these ideas.

l Go to free concerts in the park, jazz festivals, or revivals. Even if it isnt your childs favorite, it is likely he will be able to find

something interesting to observe in a live performance. Besides, live music is just better no matter what kind.

l Most libraries have a wide variety of CDs. Borrow some music from other cultures or try to find music from a particular time in

history (World War II, the 60s, etc). Listen to diverse music together to develop a deeper appreciation for all types of sound.

Share the music you listened to when you were a teen (if you dare!) and listen to hers. If she is into rap, get her to try some

reggae. If she is into country, try some classical music.

l Sign your child up for music lessons so he can experience the magic of music firsthand. The YWCA and YMCA offer classes

for a nominal fee. If these suggestions stretch your budget too much, encourage your child to join the school band and take up

an instrument that can be rented for the school year fairly inexpensively.



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Be a Captive Audience

Riding together in the family car is a great time to engage your kids in conversation (they cant get away and neither can you). For your

auditory learner, this is not only a time to bond but to reinforce learning. Listen to your chatterbox talk, even if it is just to shoot the

breeze. Auditory learners need to hear themselves and hear others in order to learn and problem solve.

l Discuss everything under the sun: what they are learning in school, current events, and their friends. Ask lots of questions if it

is difficult to get them to open up.

l If you see an interesting segment on the news or article in the Sunday paper, share it and ask your child's opinion. Youll be

surprised!

l Encourage your child to teach you some new information or a concept that he is learning about. Or if he is studying a foreign

language, have him share words for common objects.

Enlist the Grandparents

l Encourage your child to interview older relatives such as grandparents about the good old days. She will love listening to

her relatives' stories and learning about history, roots, and culture. If you can, have your child record the interview so she can

listen to it later and save it for other family members.

l If your older relatives are bilingual, ask them to share the language with your auditory learner allowing a love of a different

culture and language to come alive.



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Find Educational Family Activities to Interest My Kinesthetic LearnerLike most caring parents, you want to help your children reach their greatest potential and become successful in school and in life. For

your kinesthetic learners, choose fun family activities and enrichment programs that support kids who learn best through movement.

Be a Good Sport

Most kinesthetic learners, bundles of energy that they are, love sports and are good at them. Participation in sports can boost their

confidence and help them settle down to schoolwork more effectively.

l Encourage your child to join a school sports team. Success at sports can build confidence and motivate kinesthetic learners to

succeed academically.

l

Investigate fitness and team or individual sports activities outside of school.

Make Fitness a Family Affair

Hike, bowl, bike, or do yoga as a family. Aside from the obvious health benefits, sharing physical activities like these can strengthen

family bonds and open channels of communication.

Take a Hike to the Library

Make trips to the library, preferably by walking or biking there, regular parts of family life. Todays public libraries have valuable

resources for kids of all learning types and interests.

l Help your hands-on learners find nonfiction books and magazines about topics that intrigue them. The research librarian willbe happy to help.

l Accompany your kinesthetic learners to events and programs of interest sponsored by local libraries, museums, park districts,

and civic organizations.

Join 4H, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts

l Many free organized groups offer an abundance of hands-on activities that appeal to kinesthetic learners, especially active

children who love the outdoors.

My Favorite Things

l Collecting can boost kinesthetic learners confidence as it sharpens their cognitive skills. Whatever your child treasuresfrom

stamps to seashells can form an affordable and alluring collection. Assembling a collection develops childrens classifying

skills and stimulates their creative and critical thinking.

l Many kinesthetic learners dig gardening. Start small, perhaps with a terrarium or an herb garden. Let your child research

garden ideas and make a plan. Tending plants lets kinesthetic learners move as they learn science concepts and respect for

nature.

l For messy fun and delicious results, bake cookies. Enroll kids with more than a passing interest in cooking in a culinary arts

class at a community center or cooking school.

l Kinesthetic learners are naturals at such hobbies as sewing, knitting, pottery, building models, and scrap booking.



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Get Hooked on Helping

l Volunteer opportunities for active kids abound. Help kinesthetic learners find a good match based on their interests and

learning style. Along with invaluable hands-on life and work experience, kids confidence will soar and their empathy deepen.

And many colleges look favorably on community service for admission.

Start a Business

l Put kinesthetic learners energy to work by encouraging them to start a business. Whether its walking dogs or washing cars,

entrepreneurship develops money management, time management, and goal setting skills, among many others.



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Boys and Girls Have Different Learning StylesEduGuide Staff

How do boys and girls experience school? Somewhat differently it seems, because their learning styles tend to differ somewhat.

Although individual differences always trump gender-related differences, here are some differences between the ways boys and girls

in K12 grades classrooms behave that have implications for teaching and learning.

Girls are more likely to Boys are more likely to

1. be good listeners a trait that serves them well in today's

language-rich classrooms.

1. do well when using mathematical-logical thinking.

2. print neatly and follow directions carefully. 2. settle for messy handwriting and disorganized work.

3. sit calmly in their seats. 3. need space to spread out their materials move around in that

space.

4. gather facts before they draw conclusions. 4. deduce conclusions from general statements.

5. need concrete examples when learning abstract principles. 5. be comfortable with mathematical symbols and general ideas

in math.

6. need to talk about their subject before beginning a writing

project.

6. lose focus on a writing task and spend little time talking about

what they plan to write.

7. work well in cooperative groups. 7. Prefer to work alone argue over who will lead when working in

a group

8. entertain themselves during boring parts of the school day. 8. act out and disrupt the class when bored.

9. pay attention to more than one activity at a time. 9. find it hard to concentrate on learning when they are upset.10. discuss problems with a t eacher. 10. act as if they don't care about learning when they are

confused or frustrated.



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Types of Learning StylesWhat Is Your Child's Learning Style?

EduGuide Staff

What Are Learning Styles?

Everyone gathers information about the world through three sensory receivers: visual (sight), auditory (sound), and kinesthetic

(movement). Some people rely most on visual cues, others prefer auditory input, and still others learn best through movement.

Educators refer to these differences as learning styles. According to Cheri Fuller, author of Unlocking Your Childs Learning Potential,

Learning style entails how a person best takes in, understands, and remembers information. She adds, in most children, one

sense is usually more finely tuned and influential for learning than the others.

Assessing Learning Styles

So how do teachers identify students learning types? According to Dr. James Keefe, former director of research for the National

Association of Secondary School Principals, only ten to fifteen percent of schools use formal tests to determine learning styles. He

would like to see these percentages increase and the information added to students permanent records. Most teachers, however,

especially in elementary school, observe their students closely to determine learning styles. Then they use learning styles strategies

that individualize instruction to take advantage of each students learning type.

Find Your Childs Learning Style

Its not hard to figure out a childs dominant learning style. Does your child have a primarily visual learning style? Visual learners are

watchers. As babies, they are often drawn to lights, colors, and movement. They revel in colorful toys and piles of picture books. Visual

learners enjoy and learn easily from pictures, handouts, videos, and films. In school, they can learn science principles by watching a

science experiment rather than having to conduct the experiment themselves.

Auditory learners are listeners. They learn to talk early and, as toddlers, enjoy listening to tapes and playing musical instruments.

Auditory learners are talkative. They like to read aloud, recall commercials word for word, and do tongue twisters. In school, they

memorize math facts much more easily in a song or poem than from flash cards.

Kinesthetic learners are hands-on types. Kids who love taking things apart to see how they work are kinesthetic learners. As babies,

kinesthetic learners are in constant motion, their movements are well coordinated, and they are anxious to crawl and walk as quickly

as possible. In a classroom, kinesthetic learners can be fidgety. Theyll often be the first to volunteer to do something anything

active. They want to do an experiment not watch it or read about it.

Schooling at the middle and upper grades favors auditory learning. But students whose dominant learning style is visual or kinesthetic

can improve their auditory learning skills. They can also incorporate many study techniques that draw on their learning-style strengths.

The first step to taking best advantage of any childs learning style is to identify and learn about it.

This article was a combined effort, using Annette Kingsburys article News in Education: Learning Styles Vary in Students and Kathryn Lays article

Learning Types: Recognizing Your Childs Style.



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What Is My Child's Learning Style?

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