Do Learning styles
Affect Learning?
Learning styles are different approaches to the way information is processed. We all have favorite ways of doing things. Some of us are visual learners. Others prefer to learn by listening. Still others like doing things or using their body.
We also have favorite environments that we like to learn or work in. Some like quiet. Other people prefer noise. Some people prefer to work independently. Still others prefer to work in groups.
Does the learning style or the environment affect our children's learning? I think to some extent yes. We as adults have known teachers that presented material in a way that made sense to us. We can do the same with our children.
We need to be aware of our learning style because that becomes our teaching style. If our style is different than our children they may not learn as well. Here are the different types and what works best for each.
Visual Learners
Some people are visual learners. These people learn best by seeing. They think in pictures and learn best with visual displays such as diagrams, illustrations and videos. PEC are helpful in teaching children who visual and have low auditory skills.
Auditory Learners
Other people learn through listening. These people like to listen to lectures and discussions. A sub group of auditory learners like to listen to audio books.
Visual learners and auditory learners do well in traditional school settings. Especially when the two styles are combines. Schools teach a lot with lectures and discussions. Schools use diagrams and illustrations. If the child can read well he will do well in a school setting.
Tactile/Kinesthetic
The third type is tactile/kinesthetic. They learn best by exploring the world around them. Children in this group like multisensory learning. They like using as many of their senses as possible.
A hands-on approach to learning works well with this learner. Children who are kinesthetic like making things. Making 3D maps, and puppets would be good activities. These children also like doing science experiments.
Children who are tactile/kinesthetic need the freedom to move. Some children in this group like to learn facts by jumping on a trampoline.
To determine your child's learning style observe. Ask yourself what activities your child likes to do. If your child is dominant in one style it should be obvious.
There are some tests online that can help you determine your child's style. They are not very accurate for young children because you need to fill in the answers for your child.
You can also try teaching to different learning styles to see how best your child processes information.
Another View
One of the first books that I read about homeschooling is Teaching Tips and Techniques by Rebecca L. Avery. In her book she says that children do not develop a learning style until they are adults. Children go through the different learning styles.
My experience with my children has shown this to be true. When my children were preschoolers and early elementary age they preferred to learn by using their hands. Latter they could understand a lecture if I also included a picture or diagram. Now my high school daughter can listen to lectures and process the information.
Teaching Techniques
How would you teach the different learning styles? Let's say that you are teaching spelling. A visual learner could spell the words after looking at them. Maybe he would look for patterns in the letters. He might ask himself how many letters in each word and the shapes of the letters.
An auditory learner might listen to the sounds of the letters. He might also listen to the spelling of the words.
A tactile/kinesthetic learner might write the words several times before he could spell them. Some children might jump for each letter in the word.
Other Learning Preferences
I think that the three learning styles just mentioned are too narrow. I know some children who prefer to work in quiet environment. These children can be easily distracted. They do not like to work where others are making noise. If they will work independently give them there assignment them let them study in their room.
Other children like noise. Play soft background music.
Some children love to be independent. They like doing long term projects. Children in this group would like to do reports.
Other children like rules and schedules. They also like drill and repetition. This group likes to do workbooks. They would be happiest if you told them to do a certain number of pages a day.
Another child likes to be social. Working in groups is fun for this group. They like discussing ideas and doing public presentations.
I think that we need to be aware of how our children learn. But it should not be the controlling factor in how we deal with our children. If we have more that one child it could become difficult and stressful trying to cater to everyone's preferences. You could teach your child's weakest subjects according to his learning style. Then try to teach your child to be sensitive to others around them.
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