Introduction to Learning Styles
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We all know much more about learning styles than we may, at first, realize. We know that music is something most of us enjoy listening to more than we enjoy trying to play it, and we know that words are much more recognizable once they are on the Scrabble™ game board than they are in random letter order on our Scrabble™ tile rack. But when we think of improving visual skills and listening skills for everyday learning, we can easily become overwhelmed.
As I began to homeschool my own children, I quickly realized that what had worked for one child most certainly was not working for the other child. That was disappointing. I did some quick research into basic learning styles and began to apply those theories. As I observed my children and thought about how they each learned best, I began to see similarities to other children I knew. I recognized learning style tendencies in myself, my spouse, and other adults I knew. The more I observed, the more traits I recognized, and the more I analyzed those tendencies and experimented with different methods.
This book is the culmination of my learning style theories to this point. I say to this point, because this is a work in progress. As time goes by, I continue to notice more and more things that apply to the various learning styles. If I were to wait until I felt I had gathered all possible knowledge on this topic, you, my dear readers, would never receive the benefit. Instead, I will share what I have learned thus far, and you may apply it to your own students. I also encourage you to continue this study with your own observations of those around you.
In this book, you will learn how to identify a student’s strengths and the basic characteristics of each learning style: tactile, kinesthetic, auditory, and visual. You will learn how to use your student’s strengths to teach various subjects. You will also learn how to transition from your student’s strongest learning style into other styles within each subject, helping him learn how to learn through other learning styles and how to develop his abilities in the styles where he is weaker.
Moms and Dads, you already know your children well. This book will help you notice even more details about them and help you use all of your information to teach more effectively and help your students learn more efficiently.
While many of the examples given here will focus on beginning students and foundational skills, many of the tips can be adapted for older students and for more complicated subject matter. For example, little boys will always be boys, no matter how old they become, and kinesthetic techniques can get through to them for a long time, no matter what other learning abilities they may have.
Have you ever been locked out of your car or out of your house? I have—and sometimes it was through no fault of my own. Trying to teach your student using the wrong learning style feels a lot like being locked out:
You have a right to get inside. (It is actually your job to get in there)
BUT—You have the key, but the lock is rusty. (Lubricate it, give it a little time to work, and then try again)
OR—You don’t have the key. (Go for the standard back-up plan by having a spare key handy)
OR—Your spare key is also missing. (There may also be some other barrier, such as the storm door is locked from the inside, so this is the time to get creative in lock-picking and modes of access.)
I have had friends who were locked out of their cars, their houses or apartments, or their padlocked gym lockers, and I helped them pick those locks or find alternate means of entry. This book is about a different type of lock-picking: finding alternate ways of gaining entry to your students’ minds. It is your job to help your student learn, and this book will give you the tools to do that job well. Together, we will find the keys to your students’ interests, lubricate the rusty thinking processes, create back-up teaching methods, and discover alternate ways to get inside your students’ minds and open the doors to learning.
Do learning styles have an age limit? No. Throughout this book, I use many examples of learning styles. Some will apply to young children, some will apply to older children, and some will apply to teens and adults. It is my hope that readers will recognize their own learning style tendencies, as well as those of their children/students.
Education is truly a life-long endeavor, so let learning become a family adventure and develop some new abilities yourself as you teach your children. It is never too late to work on strengthening your weaknesses.
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