A Word About Learning Styles
We all take in information through three modes: visual, auditory and kinesthetic (tactile). Usually, like a dominant hand, we have a preferred method of taking in information. Most schoolbooks and classrooms teach to the visual and auditory learning modes and completely leave out the kinesthetic learning mode.
Kinesthetic (tactile) is a fancy way of saying, “hands-on.” All children are hands-on learners. They are movers. If they can jump in a puddle rather than go around, they are so going to jump in. It is in their nature to explore through movement.
As parents, we can’t wait to see our baby crawl and then walk. Yet, when we put them in a school setting, whether at home or in a prison (sorry, government institution of lower learning) we expect them to sit still for hours and still be able to learn something. That is simply not how they are designed to learn.
An attention span does not come naturally to anyone, adults included. It takes training. However, wanting to move while learning is not necessarily a sign of disobedience. Often, it is just them trying to access their ability to remember what you are teaching or to keep themselves focused.
That does not mean that children should be let loose and be wild, but there is a difference between learning and disobedience. You are the parent, we are sure you can tell when your child is being difficult and when he or she is just learning the way that comes naturally.
We do not concern ourselves with school always being learned at a desk or in a chair. Sometimes school happens outside, sometimes in the van, and sometimes when we are trying to get supper finished. Learning is natural to them and there is no reason to put it in a communist-government fashioned box.
These learners learn best through their eyes. That can mean they prefer watching a video, reading, or just observing how something is done.
This learner needs to hear how it is done, talk it over with someone or listen to the subject matter in some way.
These learners need to touch and squeeze what they are learning about. Movement also helps them retain information. Let them jump, stand, run and wiggle when they need to.
The People Person loves to be around other people. They learn best when the subject is taught through the lens of the person or people who are involved. They love to be around people and learn about their lives and experiences.
The Sensor Person needs to be hands on. They need to be able to get in there and do something: build it, sew it, paint it. Learning with something they can hold and manipulate helps this learner retain more information.
Learning Personalities
Everyone has a different personality. Character traits and preferences vary from person to person. So too do our learning personalities.
We all interpret the world through our own personality. While that might sound strange, think about it for a minute. If you are someone who is very sympathetic by nature, you are going to take into account people’s emotions more readily than someone who is very systematic and schedule oriented.
There are four main, recognized learning personalities: the people person, the thinker person, the feeler person and the idea person.
We all have strengths and weaknesses for sure. One learning personality is not better than the other. They all have great importance to a society.
Nobody can be fit neatly into a box. The reality is we all have a little bit of everything in us. One or more learning personalities may be more dominant over the other, but we can always choose to develop the less dominant personalities with some effort on our part.
The Thinker Person likes to be organized and likes to know what is expected of him or her. They like to have information available to them that is accurate and as complete as possible.
The Idea Person always has some thing in their mind they want to do. They love planning and executing projects, from stage plays to new kinds of games. This learner has so many ideas, it is often difficult to get to everything!
The Word Smart child will enjoy activities that involve language. As he or she gets older, reading will be a natural subject and talking will come easily. He or she will love to use his or her words as often as possible.
The People Smart child will love to be around people. He or she will naturally be good leaders or counselors and will love group activities.
The Body Smart child is good at learning skills that involve large or small motor skills. From working with jewelry to skateboarding, this child processes knowledge through body movements.
There are more than just two kinds of smarts.
Most schools and education programs are designed with only two kinds of smarts (intelligences) in mind, Word Smart and Number Smart. The students who have Word Smarts excel at most subjects because all subjects involve reading. Number Smart students excel at math and science. Students blessed with strength in both smarts have it made in modern education settings. However, there are far more smarts than just these two. Below i have listed the eight main smarts that have been identified.
Again, we all have these eight smarts, some just come more naturally than the others, but we can all choose to develop these smarts further.
The Number Smart child is good at patterns. This smart helps him or her in math and science subjects. He or she will often be good at logic and organization.
The Nature Smart child needs to be outside. His or her mind is drawn to the outdoors and what it has to teach him or her. He or she is often patient and very observant.
The Music Smart child learns best with rhythm and often learns well along side musical patterns. Often he or she will enjoy performing or attending performances and get wrapped up in the music.
The Picture Smart child sees the word in 3D. He or she can visualize projects and ideas in his or her mind and are often good at building projects with blocks or other materials.
The Self Smart child will need time alone to create and process information. He or she will be good at independent study. He or she often knows his or her own limitations well and like to push his or her limits often.