Not all children, even siblings, learn new information in the same way. Depending on a child's learning style, she may learn better in a particular environment or when a teacher delivers information in a particular way. Many children rely on more than one learning style. Discovering more about the learning styles of your children or students can enable you to help these children perform their best.
Visual
Visual learners rely on their sense of sight to process information. When visual learners hear a description of an object or scene, they typically form a picture of that object or scene in their heads. Children who learn visually benefit more from reading or looking at illustrations or graphs than from hearing information presented aloud. According to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, visual learners fall into two subcategories: linguistic and spatial visual learners. Linguistic visual learners rely more on written language, while spatial visual learners prefer charts and demonstrations. Children who learn visually should take notes during lectures so that they can read over the information later. Writing notes in different colors can also help visual learners. Visual learners should sit near the front in class so that they can see the teacher and any visual aids the teacher presents. Visual learners should study in a quiet space, free of auditory distractions. Visual learners represent 40 percent of the secondary student population in this country, according to the University of Illinois.
Auditory
Auditory learners rely on their sense of hearing to process information. Auditory learners who play instruments can often play a song by ear after simply hearing the melody, rather than reading the notes. Auditory learners spell phonetically and often have trouble remembering unusual spellings or silent letters. Children who learn by listening often enjoy reading aloud or talking through problems in their heads. These children might find it useful to explain a concept to a friend or parent in order to reach a clearer understanding of it. Lectures and books on tape appeal to auditory learners. Auditory learners represent only 10 percent of the secondary school population in this country, according to the University of Illinois.
Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic learners rely on their sense of touch to process information. Kinesthetic learners absorb information more easily through hands-on activities than through lectures. Teachers should provide kinesthetic learners with assignments or field trips that allow them to make or assemble an object, complete a task or experience a phenomenon firsthand. Kinesthetic learners often move around a lot while in class or studying, and they often need frequent breaks. Kinesthetic learners represent 60 percent of the secondary school population in this country, according to the University of Illinois.
