Discovering Your Child's Preferred Learning Style (continued)

The visual learner:

• Notices details
• Is aware of similarities and differences
• Often has good eye-hand coordination
• May be quiet and deliberate
• May have a vivid imagination
• May have trouble remembering verbal directions and messages

The auditory learner:

• Talks to him or herself
• Hums and asks lots of questions
• May want to make a lot of noise if it is too quiet
• May be distracted by having too many sounds at one time
• Is very social and loves to talk about what he or she is doing

The physical learner:

• Seems to be in constant motion
• Needs to handle and try things out to understand them
• May actually need to be moving to learn

How Understanding Learning Styles Helps Your Child

If a subject in school is not taught using your child's preferred learning style, he or she may struggle to understand it. You can help your child grasp difficult material by practicing at home using your child's best learning style.

You may also be able to talk with your child's teacher about how your child learns best. This can help both your own and other children in the class. In the past, most instruction was delivered verbally (although only about 10 percent of secondary school students are auditory learners).

Many teachers are now aware of the need to deliver instruction in ways that accommodate all learning styles.

Understanding your child's learning style also helps you:

• Keep expectations realistic
• Help your child at home
• Become an advocate for your child at school
• Teach your child coping skills for situations that are not geared to his or her learning style
• Prevent your child from feeling frustrated when he or she is not doing work that is up to his or he potential
• Experiment with different learning styles and environments to improve your child's accomplishments and feelings of achievement

It is important to avoid negative labels for learners. All children are born ready to learn.

For More Information:

• Index of Learning Styles (North Carolina State University)
• What's Your Child's Learning Style? (Parent Center.com) l
• Learning Styles Online
• Learning Modalities (Monroe County School District, Key West, Florida)