Guest writer and homeschool expert Lea Ann Garfias joins us today to explain the importance of understanding our child’s learning style.
I spent quite a bit of my early homeschool years completely ignoring my students’ learning style. I didn’t realize how much I was missing out! By not respecting each child’s individuality in learning and expressing his understanding, I was complicating things for all of us.
But when I began to understand learning styles better and to look for evidences of my child adapting his own education to his own needs, a lightbulb went off in my head. Suddenly I could see it all the time – my students learn best when they work with their God-given strengths, not against them.
We often think about learning style as it applies to our students – how can we make our students learn and retain more. But I’ve found the surprising secret: learning style unlocks the keys to some of my child’s deepest mysteries!
What My Child’s Learning Style Tells Me.
- How he enjoys learning best.
This is the obvious one that most of us are aiming for. We want to ignite the fire of learning within our child and fan its flames into a burning passion for greater understanding. And while that shouldn’t be the end-all of learning styles, it definitely is a plus. When I recognize how my child learns best, I can help him use that strategy more effectively.
- How he listens to me and remembers what I say.
This was the first surprising thing I noticed – when I recognize my child’s learning style, I’m not as critical any more about how he listens to me. Now I know that when my auditory teen stares off in the distance while I’ll talking, he isn’t ignoring me. He’s trying not to be distracted by my sometimes over-animated face so he can understand what I am saying better. Likewise, my kinesthetic learner tends to draw, fidget, or even jump while I’m explaining something because listening and making his body be still is way too much work.
- Why I think he’s not listening.
All throughout the day, I talk a lot. I’m always giving instructions, refereeing fights, and nagging reminding about unfinished chores. A constant refrain is, “Nobody is listening to me!” But when I became more aware of my student’s learning styles, I realized they are often listening in their own way. My visual learners give me their eyes and stand quietly to listen, visually and audibly answering me when I’m finished. But my auditory listener has heard it all before, remembers it, and gets turned off by my voice’s constant droning; he appreciates a quick “Do you remember that think?” My kinesthetic learner is listening – while he’s literally climbing the walls and jumping up and down on my last nerve. Sometimes a gentle hand on his shoulder or pat on the head is all he needs to get back on track.
- Why his room looks like that.
My visual learners want all the lovely, meaningful things right in front, so their dresser tops and beds are covered in stuffed animals, trophies, favorite books, and brick-a-brac. My kinesthetic learner needs everything at his fingertips, so you can’t find the floor of his room half the time. It doesn’t make me enjoy the messes, but it does help me respect his process.
- How I can love him best.
When I understand my child’s unique strategies for learning and retaining information, that gives me the keys to teaching him about how much I love him. I listen carefully to the questions my auditory learner asks, because I know he values the information. I’m more cautious not to nag or criticize him, because I don’t want to use his love language against him.
I’m more careful to smile at my visual learners and keep a kind countenance before them, because I know a harsh or grumpy look could easily communicate I’m angry at them when I’m not. I am also swift to hug my kinesthetic learner and gentle to bandage his wounds or just reach out and tussle his hair.
Recognizing our child’s unique learning styles tell us so much about who he is, how he perceives the world, and how he communicates his deepest thoughts. What has your child’s learning style taught you?
Author Lea Ann Garfias helps moms recognize the extraordinary impact they make with their seemingly ordinary lives. A homeschool grad and homeschooling mom of four, Lea Ann fuels her roles as author, professional violinist, choir director, and soccer mom with a whole lotta coffee. Connect with her at lagarfias.com.
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Thank you for letting me share today! 🙂
Thanks so much for your expertise!
So THAT’s why my oldest’s desk is a mess. He’s a visual learner.
Me, too!! 🙂 That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it!
This is good to pay attention to!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
This was really interesting to read. Even though I don’t home school, i think it’s even important to look out for these signs as parents too.
I think it’s a great idea for parents, teachers and just people in general to speak to the needs of our children. Public schools teach in one way to all children…but that may not be best for a particular child. We definitely need to teach to the strengths and weaknesses of each style. Thought provoking…
This is very helpful. My boys are 5 and their learning styles are emerging, which is honestly something I’ve never thought about.
Knowing their learning style does help you impact them the most. I thought #4 was interesting. I never thought of it that way.
These are so important to remember. I have a preschool class of 3-4 year olds and they ALL learn in their own ways. Each class teaches me so much every year about how kids learn, what they see through their eyes, and how I can change lessons around to accommodate their learning. It takes practice but it’s so worth it once you see them “get it”!
Every child is different and they learn so much faster when they can do it in the way that works best for them. I briefly tried to get my son to sit still at the table when we began homeschooling, but soon learned that that was like torture for him and if he was allowed to move, fidget, play with things a while before I attempted any instruction, he took in and retained so much more. I still often think he’s not listening when he’s bouncing around me, but then I’ll hear him relate everything he heard to his Dad the next day. He’s constantly amazing me
Thanks for sharing your experience, L. E.
Thanks for these pointers! I am always surprised at what my daughter responds to… her learning style is completely different than mine, so I appreciate these tips!
My kids all have different learning styles–and only one has a similar style to mine. It’s fun to see how they think.
I always find this interesting. It makes me wonder how so many kids do so well in a pubic school with so many types of learners in one classroom. But it also helps explain why so many are not doing well.
Teachers just don’t have the time or support to meet all the individual needs of their students. When I was teaching, I was told to just “teach to the middle.”
Thank you for sharing this. I have a 6 year old son and never thought about really paying attention to how his learning style is. This was helpful and I have bookmarked it to read again.
This is such important information. All children are so different in how they learn, and you are completely right that we can learn so much by observing them.
I Love this. I think it’s great to understand your child and how they learn, as a parent we often feel like our child is not listening, but they are, just in their own way.
When my oldest was younger he roamed and rolled all over the classroom (yes, at school) and learned so easily. Now that he has some understanding that it is socially inappropriate to act like that (it took until he was about 12) he struggles to learn a lot more. he is 16 now and we are both counting down the days until he graduates!