One of the amazing benefits of homeschooling is really getting to see your child tick and how they learn. There are many philosophies and great books out there on learning styles, but this post will focus on the basic three learning styles.
Visual Learner.
The visual learner learns by seeing. They do well with worksheets and watching other people perform tasks. They enjoy using charts and graphs and organizing information into visual categories. They think with pictures in their head, including seeing words.
Auditory Learner.
This child absorbs information just by listening. They typically love music and may sing everything. Audiobooks can be a huge tool here. They also love to hear themselves talk, so they may be verbal processors as well. Do you have that kid that can pick up on a conversation two rooms over?
Kinesthetic Learner.
These kids have to be moving and doing. As they are learning something new, they need to be doing it alongside you. They retain information when combined with movement. These kids are the hardest to teach because it requires you to be on your toes and always moving.
Most of us are a combination of these learning styles, but there is usually one that stands out the strongest. Being with your kid day in and day out allows you the opportunity to watch them and see how they prefer to learn. There are resources available if you are interested in digging in more deeply.
The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias is an indepth look at learning styles.
The Big WHAT NOW Book of Learning Styles by Carol Barnier is a great pratical book full of ideas for reaching our kids where they learn best.
Learning Style Quizes are available for testing yourself or your kiddos.
Parenting Isn’t for Cowards by Dr. James Dobson encourages parents to appreciate their child’s individual personality.
How does your kid learn best?
