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Parenting & Education in Ireland

Schooldays.ie - Ireland's Online Resource for Parents & Teachers

Parenting & Education

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Children's different learning styles



Kids and adults learn in number of ways: some learn better through visual stimulus, while others are better at listening or when they interact with objects. Students find they will retain information better in the classroom when information is presented with imagery, using a projector or written on the blackboard. Others maybe benefit more from listening to a teacher discuss a topic, while some students need to physically interact with an object in order to fully understand it. Most children, and adults, use a combination of these styles in order to learn but may have a predominant learning style.

By identifying these different styles of learning in your child you can provide them with educational games and activities that will suit their strength in learning best.

According to research, there are three different learning styles that have been identified in students: auditory learner, visual learner and tactile learner.

    • Auditory learners learn best when information is presented in an auditory language format. If you or your child are an auditory learner you will learn better when information is given through discussion, explained aloud or talking things out.
    • Visual learners learn best when information is presented in written language, or by images and diagrams. They learn by reading words on the blackboard and remember by creating visual pictures in their mind.
    • Tactile/Kinesthetic learners learn by hands-on. They learn better when they can physically pick something up and move it around rather than visualise it.

About Auditory Learners:

Auditory learners benefit from traditional styles of teaching. Most classes for students are presented in a lecture or forum type of learning. Whereby a teacher will speak and students will listen, ask questions and will retain information better when it is explained and presented verbally.

Other noises may be a distraction for auditory learners so a quite space is best for them to listen. Auditory learners tend to speak slower and listen more and prefer to have things read to them rather than read written information. Games and activities that help develop this learning strength are: Listening to audiobooks, discussions, answering questions in school workbooks orally, background music, word games, reading aloud books, storytelling, TV radio and shows.

About Visual Learners:

Some students rely on the ‘show me and I’ll understand’ methodology for learning. They benefit from visual guides such as diagrams, images, writing, and watching films. Visual learners tend to learn better through demonstrations and descriptions. They tend to be fast talkers and will use words or phrases to evoke visual images. They benefit from teaching styles that help them build ‘mental pictures’.

Activities to help visual learners retain information include reading, picture/word games, using colours and paints for drawing, using flash card games for memory, puzzles, and demonstrations.

About Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners:

Most kids learn by touching, feeling and interacting in the classroom using a hands-on approach. Younger children tend to want to touch and feel materials they come in contact with and some continue to retain information better in this tactile way as they get older. Kinesthetic learners may often be harder to ‘sit still’ in classrooms for long periods of time when teacher is delivering an audio or visual lesson.

Kinesthetic learners thrive in activity based learning such as laboratory experiments, field-trips and role playing or using props as learning aids. Younger kids may benefit from using Lego, Playdough or clay to aid educational games. Other activities that Kinesthetic learners include, making models, drawing, drama or role-playing, experiments, and treasure hunts.

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