GUEST POST BY NCHENZ MEMBER, CHRIS DIXON
Auditory, visual, kinesthetic … what do these really mean? How can we understand our kids’ learning styles and best teach them as unique individuals?
Surprisingly, auditory learners don’t learn by listening, they learn by talking. In a traditional classroom the teacher might say, “Today we’re learning about cats,” to which the auditory learner will blurt out a story about their cats. These types of interruptions are not normally appreciated in the classroom setting, however the child won’t be able to hear the call to be quiet until all their words are finished. You know you have an auditory learner when people comment at how they are always talking, or always asking why.
Visual learners don’t learn by seeing, they learn by picturing. Unless the child can picture the new concept in their mind, no learning will take place. These kids only go at the speed of imagination. Because visual learners think in pictures, they either have to imagine it, or see it, for learning to take place. You know you have a visual learner when you’ve explained something with words and they don’t get it, or they forget everything you just said (they’re not forgetful, they just didn’t have any meaningful pictures to store in their imagination).
Kinesthetic learners don’t learn by doing, because everyone learns by doing. They learn by moving. These are your wrigglers who swing on their chair, chew their pencil, or fiddle with the zip on their jacket. Kinesthetic learners have to be active for any learning to take place, so a worthwhile strategy is to have them shoot hoops or ride their bike while discussing a topic or repeating specific facts. They connect learning to movement.
In a traditional classroom where kids are generally required to sit still, be quiet, and listen to a teacher’s words, it actually works for only a very few kids. And this is why homeschooling is so amazing! The auditory learner can engage in a discussion. The visual learner can pick up a book. And the kinesthetic learner can lie on the floor swinging their legs.
But there’s a cheat code that works for all learning styles. It’s story. The human brain is designed to connect with story in a way nothing else can match. This is because good story has emotion and meaning. When you put emotion and meaning together, it’s seared into the human brain in an unforgettable way. As a homeschool family, you probably do a lot of driving. A few people have mentioned that they actually “car-school” which is a great way to describe it! If you don’t already, why not play audio books? A paid subscription is nice, but a library card will give you free access to apps such as Libby or Overdrive. Just be prepared for the book to spark a discussion, so frequent pauses are to be expected.
As you discover the learning style combination of your kids, you will be able to do more of what works for your family. There will be less learning fatigue, and more engagement in the material you are presenting. And if you have an auditory learner who just needs to get her words out, maybe hand her the book and have her teach it to you.