What type of learner is your child?-Find out more!
Not sure how to identify your child’s primary learning style? Here’s what you need to know to get started!
Have you ever noticed your child listening to music whilst doing their homework or even pacing across their room as they prepare for a test? Maybe your child even rewrites a certain answer multiple times in order to remember it.
Do you sometimes make your children do their homework in the living room so you can keep an eye on them but then, it gets too noisy because your other children are fighting it out on the couch so your child angrily stomps out of the room unable to concentrate? It could even be the other way around which tends to shock you because your child is still able to study regardless of the noise.
Identifying and understanding their specific learning style can improve the way in which we teach them throughout their life, and aid them in mastering their studies and succeeding in life. Although some children may have multiple or a combination of learning styles, they still have a preferred or primary method of learning.
Now, let us discover the different learning styles that your child may showcase. According to research, there are four main learning styles which are Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing, and Kinesthetic learning style. This is commonly referred to as VARK.
VISUAL LEARNING STYLE
Visual learners are people who are drawn to the things surrounding them. They pay attention to details in their surroundings. You can also notice how these learners have a keen interest in colours and objects. When learning, visual learners tend to use a lot of colour for example, coloured sticky notes or even highlighters. They may also use a lot of diagrams, or even flow charts as they love to draw out concepts in order to gain a better understanding as they are visually appropriate for these types of learners.
Visual learners are said to be more organized compared to the other types of learners and they also have more vivid memories therefore, recollection is much quicker with visual learners.
Here are a few study tips for visual learners!
- Encourage them to use different coloured pens and highlighters while taking notes.
- Allow them to draw out concepts in the form of graphs, flow charts, maps, or even illustrations.
- Provide them with a workspace that is aesthetically pleasing and void of any sort of clutter or distractions.
How can teachers engage these learners in class?
- Use educational videos for example TedTalks, biopics, or even films.
- Make sure to seat visual learners near the front and use colour notes or bright presentations or cues.
- Try utilizing more worksheets, charts, diagrams, smartboards or projectors in class.
- Use positive visualization in class. For example, ask children before starting class or an assignment to visualize them scoring an A on the paper. This boosts confidence and motivation.
- Decorate the classroom with positive posters!
- Make things more fun by taking them on trips to the museum, or the zoo! Introduce more picture-based textbooks that allow them to visualize concepts better.
AUDITORY LEARNING STYLE
This is a learning style in which a person learns through listening. They rely on speaking and listening as ways to learn new material. Auditory learners prefer to listen to things in order to process information. These types of learners are considered to be good listeners, and often have verbal strengths. They follow oral directions well. You may notice these learners are drawn to music and instruments. They are also easily distracted.
Does your child notice the sound of crickets in the grass when other children were oblivious to it? Does your child tend to understand better when they read out loud to themselves? If so, then your child most likely learns best through auditory learning.
Here are a few study tips for auditory learners!
- Encourage them to either read out loud and record themselves or maybe even ask someone else to read the information to them.
- Creating fun rhymes, tunes or songs.
- Engage in conversations as they can allow them to retain information and solve complex problems better. Auditory learners love talking!
How can teachers engage these learners in class?
- Interact more with students and encourage class debates and intellectual conversations.
- Encourage them to ask questions in class. Auditory learners learn best from talking. Asking questions kickstarts a conversation which then helps to create a more profound understanding as they would be able to retain information much better by recalling the conversation.
- Encourage auditory learners to read content out loud in class. For example, when reading a novel in class, ask them to read them out loud for the whole class instead.
- Encouraging auditory listeners to ‘teach others’ verbally.
- Record yourself! Try to record classes especially for complex concepts which can help these learners to go back and review later.
READING/WRITING LEARNING STYLE
If you notice your child has the habit of writing everything down or making reading textbooks in-depth and making lengthy notes then they are most likely a reading/writing learner. These types of learners prefer studying on their own in a quiet environment with no distractions. They prefer the more traditional approach to study.
Here are a few study tips for reading/writing learners!
- Encourage them to study from written or printed handouts.
- Create an environment that is quiet and secluded in order to minimize distractions.
- Provide them with multiple sources of information pertaining to a certain concept.
How can teachers engage these learners in class?
- Encourage students to write the notes and then ask them to read it.
- Allow them to sit at a quiet place to revise or study as it helps them to retain information.
- Use more handouts in class or presentations which allows them to read information.
Kinesthetic Learning Style
When explaining something, does your child use a lot of gestures or even count with their fingers or maybe even walk around alot when engaged in a conversation? If so, then your child falls under this category of learning styles. Kinesthetic learners are said to be physical learners. It is said that these learners have a profound sense of balance and learn significantly better by touching things and solving things themselves. These learners have a knack for hands-on activities, sports, dancing, and they also have a very good hand-eye coordination.
Here are a few study tips for kinesthetic learners!
- Encourage them to incorporate hands-on learning when trying to understand a concept.
- Create flashcards in order to help them retain information better. They could be in different sizes or even textures.
- Encourage them to use their full body movement. For example, walking while studying works well.
How can teachers engage these learners in class?
- Encourage students to build or make models to better understand concepts.
- Do not punish them for fidgeting but instead, encourage them to get up and stretch once in a while and to pace around at the back of the class where it would not distract other students.
- Incorporate hands-on activities.
- Make sure you remind them to declutter their desks to avoid distractions.
3 easy steps for parents or teachers to identify these learning styles:
1. Observe your child!
The way your child studies says alot about their learning styles however, studying is not the only indication of your child’s preferred learning style. Try to keep an eye out for their interests, how they express themselves and even how they solve problems. These are key indications to your child’s primary learning style. For example, auditory learners show keen interest in music, sounds, and even rhythms or tones. Kinesthetic learners will showcase a keen interest in playing sports or spending most of their time outdoors. They may also tend to fidget a lot with their hands. When solving problems, visual learners will have a keen eye for detail therefore, if something is out of place, they are quick to figure it out. Kinesthetic learners can be seen to be more practical when solving problems. For example, a child would use their hands to count during math class.
2. Do your research!
As a parent, it is vital to do research on your child’s learning style. Why may you ask? This can give you a much clearer idea on how to confirm whether the learning style you assume your child prefers is correct or not.
How to do your research? Start in the classroom! Ask teachers if they’ve noticed any particular way your child studies or learns in class. If they have noticed any strengths or weaknesses. For example, reading/writing learners would avoid learning in loud environments and would interact less in class as they would be busy making notes. Whereas, kinesthetic learners would always be first in line to participate in hands-on activities. Auditory learners would more likely be the talkative ones in class, the child that’s always asking questions in class or striking up a conversation, maybe even a debate.
Another way to confirm your child’s primary learning style is by taking quizzes! There are multiple quizzes online that are quick to identify a learning style.
Don’t forget to check out these websites if you’re curious about finding out your child’s learning style!
- The VARK Questionnaire | VARK
- Learning Styles Quiz: What Is Your Child’s Learning Style?
- What’s Your Learning Style? 20 Questions
- What kind of learner is your child? 10 questions Use This Quiz
3. Act on your findings!
It is extremely helpful to educate and teach your child based on their primary learning style, and to also help them adapt to various ways of learning through these styles in order to produce the most effective and successful outcome. It is possible for your child to also have multiple learning styles, so try not to limit them to just one! Allow them to explore and expand as it can be beneficial to them because it will mould them into a well-rounded individual.
FUN ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE LEARNING FOR EACH LEARNING STYLE!
Visual Learners:
- Let’s get creative with mind maps! Mind Maps are a fun way of getting visual learners to understand concepts better.
- Lapbooks is another creative way of getting visual learners engaged in classrooms. They are mini-books filled with information about a certain topic. You can then bundle all these mini-books into a file folder to keep them all in one place. It involves a student doing research as well as coming up with a format and diagrams, pictures and many other visually appealing ways of understanding this concept.
Auditory Learners:
- Find yourself a buddy! Teaching a friend concepts that you have learnt in class is a fun and easy way to help auditory learners retain and understand information better.
- Another fun game could be Chinese whispers but with concepts! Pass around a whisper of a concept with its meaning in a short, and simple way that is easy to remember. This trains students’ listening skills in class. Another game could be to see which student can come up with the best rhyme or even a song related to a topic.
Reading/Writing Learners:
- Bringing Stories To Life! Encourage students to enact a story in class or even read the story with expression and tones.
- Become the teacher for a day! Encourage these learners to research a given topic and either make handouts or presentations for class. They can assign a presentation to an auditory learner or could even take it upon themselves to present the topic to the class. Encourage them to read their own handouts to the class and use the smartboard or whiteboard to explain concepts.
Kinesthetic Learners:
- Charades or roleplaying is an exciting game that is best suited for kinesthetic learners. It can be used to teach classes like english or drama.
- DIY is an exciting approach to get kinesthetic learners doing it themselves! They can create models to better understand concepts for example, using playdough to make mini-hearts, or even volcanoes. They can make salt maps in geography!
Learning styles are vital to understanding how an individual can best understand life and everything that goes on in it. In order to succeed or acquire success, a person should know their limits, strengths and weaknesses when it comes to learning and adapting to their environment and the knowledge they gain from it.
Therefore, start now, start early, identify your child’s primary learning style to make learning easier!
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