How To Identify Different Learning Styles

Traditional school settings are designed to teach many students the same thing at once. While the setup of educational institutes works for many students, others may respond differently than others. Why? Because they have different learning styles. Many children excel through visuals, while others can read for hours, retaining every single word. No two children are exactly alike, and their learning styles differ, too.

Because of that, many bright young pupils may be seen as less than academically gifted simply because the way they learn best isn’t part of their curriculum. The good news is that understanding the different ways children learn can prepare you with an arsenal of information that can help your child succeed in their schooling—regardless of their learning style.

Discover your child’s learning style: what are the different learning styles?
There are four main learning styles:

• Visual: Retains information better through charts, diagrams, symbols, and other visual aids.
• Auditory: Also known as an aural learner; information that is presented to them vocally is best.
• Reading/writing: These learners retain information best when they are reading and writing and using text-heavy worksheets or presentations.
• Kinesthetic: Physical or hands-on learners are more likely to retain information when presented with educational activities that require them to use their senses, such as touch.

Some children may learn best using only one of the learning styles, while others excel at learning different subjects in different ways. For example, a visual learner may benefit from seeing math problems being worked out visually on the class board. In contrast, a reading/writing learner may understand those math problems better if they are left to read instructions on performing them while writing them out. Each student is equally capable of learning the same math problem – they just need to go about it differently.

The importance of knowing your child’s learning style
Identifying your child’s learning style early on can help you foster a positive and practical course for their education. For example, if your child works best through visual aids when studying at home or working on homework, you can help them by creating charts or other visuals to aid in their ability to retain the information.

Their education, although important, isn’t the only aspect of their life that can benefit from knowing their learning style. Personal growth is also vital to overall success in life. When you identify your child’s learning style early on, you can help create an environment that plays to that so they can sharpen their strengths, improve on their weaknesses, and further their personal development. At the same time, they learn how to function in society.

How do you know someone’s learning style?
Learning styles for kids aren’t always easy to identify. Many teachers may simply assume that a child doesn’t grasp a particular subject simply because it’s being taught in a way that isn’t conducive to how they learn. It’s not easy to look at a student and just simply know that they're a visual learner, for example. You have to dive deeper into not only their ability to grasp certain subjects in a valuable way, but also how they do so in the first place. The how is the most important thing regarding learning styles and educational success.

How do you identify different learning styles?
There are a few ways you can discover a child’s learning style. In some cases, all you need to go off are specific characteristics your child may possess. Each learning style will present different traits in students, so recognizing which attributes belong to which learning style will help you identify which category your child belongs in.

The characteristics and their learning style are as follows:

• Visual: Visual learners are more likely to be interested in art. They may also have an uncanny sense of direction, be good with maps, and would rather watch educational videos than read from a textbook. Visual learners may also love books and magazines, prefer total quiet when learning or studying, and learn off their instructor’s body language and facial expressions.
• Auditory: Auditory learners are interested in group discussions and singing along to music because of how well they retain lyrics through song. They also can notice sounds that others do not. They may also be talkative in class, thrive during oral presentations, and follow verbal directions better than those written down.
• Reading/Writing: Those who learn best through reading and writing may be more inclined to read than watch movies or shows. They like reading aloud, and enjoy taking notes, making to-do lists, and the like.
• Kinesthetic: Kinesthetic learners tend to make gestures when speaking, have good hand-eye coordination, and fidget when forced to sit in one spot for too long. They may also remember certain things better when they get to build models and master their skills when able to perform them in a hands-on capacity. They may also be interested in sports, playing musical instruments, or dance.

If you notice that your child belongs to any of these categories based on their characteristics, you can use that to your advantage to dive deeper into their learning style.

How do you assess learners of different learning styles?
When assessing your child based on their learning style, you can utilize a couple of standardized surveys and questionnaires. The VARK or the Kolb Learning Style Inventory are great places to start! They can provide you with the information you need to identify your child’s learning style while learning how to assess it and help them use it to their advantage. Doing so can help your child learn better both in and out of the classroom. 

 

Featured image by CDC on Unsplash