Learning Styles: The Basics

Posted by Montserrat | 0 comments

There’s one lesson I learned right away when we first began homeschooling – not everyone learns the same way.

Why this shocked me, I don’t know. I am so glad that I learned it early on in our homeschool experience. Most parents and teachers prefer to teach according to how they learn. I know I sure do! But knowing what type of learning styles my children have has helped me to prepare better for their education and be a better teacher to them. Sometimes it is really hard, especially because I have so many children to begin with. The effort is worth it though.

Learning styles are divided into four basic groups: Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, Kinesthetic/Tactile (VARK).

Visual learners learn by seeing. When information is presented in the form of graphs, maps, or actual demonstrations they are able to soak in the material better.

Auditory learners prefer hearing and speaking. Do you have a child who can talk your ear off and will usually work things out by talking through it? They are more than likely an auditory learner. Auditory learners learn best with lectures, books on tape, and group discussions.

Read/Write learners prefer words. Textbooks, workbooks, and reading books are devoured. Read/Write learners are typically addicted to dictionaries, PowerPoint presentations, lists, words, words, words!

Kinesthetic/Tactile learners learn best through touching and doing. Hands-on activities are their preferred mode of taking in information.

Most of us actually learn with a mixture of styles which has come to be known as multiple intelligences. Multiple intelligences also consider the musical, mathematical, naturalistic, interpersonal and intrapersonal aspects of learning.

What type of learner are you? What type of learner is your child? Here are several sites that offer tests you can take for yourself or administer to your child to determine their learning style.

Scholastic: Test Your Knowledge (online test)
VARK Questionnaire for Younger Children (pdf printable test)
Edutopia: What’s your learning style? (online test and my personal favorite)
Abiator’s Online Learning Styles Test 1 and Test 2

Why do you even need to know your child’s learning style? Once you know you can direct your teaching towards your child’s learning style strengths. Having said that, the results of any of these tests do not mean you need to “box” your child in with his/her learning style. As they get older you can help them learn how to learn when other teaching styles are used so they will be well prepared for the different teaching styles of college professors or other academic teachers. As your child grows they can also learn which study tactics work best for them.

Learning can actually be FUN!

*Note: This is the first in a series of articles I will be writing about learning styles. My next post will give a basic overview of multiple intelligences. After that each post will go into greater detail focusing on one learning style only – what to look for, materials and techniques to use when teaching, and ways your child can study on their own. I will be using my own children as examples as our family covers the whole gamut of learning styles!

Montserrat Wadsworth is completely devoted to her wonderful husband, Joseph, and their eight children (seven girls and one boy!). They live on a 4,000 acre alfalfa farm nestled in a small Northern Nevada valley. They’ve been homeschooling for 11+ years. Montserrat enjoys, photography, cooking, crafting, chocolate, and sloppy goodnight kisses. She strives to live each day as God would have her do following Mary’s biblical supplication, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) You can find her at her blog Chocolate On My Cranium.