Tip #49 from Teacher Secrets for Parents (McKinley & Trombly) - Learning Styles

   


Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.


#49

Learning Styles

 

Learning is more effective when it is an active rather than a passive process

~ Euripides

If you are like most parents, you have repeated yourself many, many times to your children. You may have even uttered the words, “How many times have I told you...” If this sounds familiar to you, perhaps you need to think about how your child learns and learn to work with that style.

How does your child learn? Consider the three types of learning styles: auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Most children learn best through a combination of the three types of learning styles, but many children favor one over the others.

Auditory Learners: Hear

Auditory learners would rather listen to things being explained than read about them. These children can benefit from reciting information out loud or retelling it to someone after they have read/learned it.

Visual Learners: See

These children will often get distracted when the teacher (or parent) is talking. They may even look like they are listening, but if you ask them a question afterward, they have no idea and look confused. Visual learners need something to focus on. They benefit by looking at graphics, watching a demonstration, or reading.

Kinesthetic Learners: Touch

Kinesthetic learners learn best through a "hands-on" experience. You can’t just demonstrate how to do a science experiment (or show them a video) and think they’ll understand the concept. They need to actually do the activity to truly understand it. Even while studying, they must do something. They do not study best by reading a chapter in social studies; they learn best by writing things down which makes it easier for them to understand and remember.

Teachers know all about these learning styles. They try their best to incorporate all three in their lessons so they can reach all learners. When they are teaching subtraction, for instance, the students will hear (auditory) the teacher giving an example of subtraction by using a story problem. She might say, “Imagine you have 7 pennies but you give 2 away to friends. How many do you have left?” Then, the teacher may show the problem on the board and work through it (visual) while the students watch. Last, she may pass out manipulatives for the students to work with, such as real pennies, and have the students actually touch something (kinesthetic) and move them around to show how 7 - 2 = 5.

You may recognize your child in one, two, or all three of the above learning styles, but chances are he will favor one over the others. Once you’ve discovered your child’s style, try your best to incorporate it the activities you do at home. When studying spelling words, for example, consider your child’s learning style. It may not be enough just to say the word and have your child spell it (auditory). You may want to have note cards with the words written on them (visual) so he can actually see the word, then turn it around and have him spell it. He can then look at it again to check for accuracy (and cement it in his mind). If he’s a kinesthetic learner, you may want to have a small, lap size whiteboard where he can write the word (kinesthetic) after you say it, or use magnetic letters that he can move around to spell the words.

Using all three styles whenever possible will help your child develop all three types of learning styles. Just because he may have a dominant learning style doesn't mean the other types can't be improved. Help him understand his learning style so learning becomes easier and less stressful as he works toward reaching his potential. 

  



     Cindy McKinley Alder                                            Patti Trombly

 

For more posts about the authors and their books (this is not the only one), click HERE.

For excerpts from more books, click HERE.

For more excerpts from 365 Teacher Secrets for Parents, click HERE.

          For more posts about books about parenting, click HERE



To purchase copies of this book at 25% discount,
use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.


Want to read this book and not have to pay for it?  

Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.



(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 



Follow MSI Press on TwitterFace BookPinterestBluesky, and Instagram. 




Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? 


We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?





Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.





Check out information on how to submit a proposal.




Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.






Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.



Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.


Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.




   
MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more --
 HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In Memoriam: Carl Don Leaver

A Publisher's Conversation with Authors: Book Marketing vs Book Promotion