When talking about learning styles, it’s good to evaluate how you learn. This helps you see that your children are themselves unique, and might make you more patient if they are different from you.
Understand yourself: Adult learning/teaching styles
Perception: How we perceive (view the world around us, take in information)
Ordering: How we order, or use, the information we perceive:
Four combinations of styles: CS, AS, AR, CR
Determine needs of each child: Learning modes:
Visual -I need to see an illustration of what I’m being taught before I understand -I am drawn to flashy, colorful, visually stimulating objects -I usually prefer books that include pictures or illustrations with the text -I look like I’m daydreaming when I’m trying to visualize what’s being said -I usually remember better when I can actually see the person talking
Auditory -I need to hear myself say it in order to remember it -I often need to talk through a problem aloud in order to solve it -I memorize best by repeating information aloud or to myself over and over -I remember best when the information fits into a rhythmic or musical pattern -I would rather listen to a recording of a book than sit and read
Kinesthetic -I have difficulty sitting still for more than a few minutes at a time -I usually learn best by physically participating in a task -I almost always have some part of my body in motion -I prefer to read books or hear stories that are full of action
While understanding individual learning styles is helpful, it’s not essential to choosing curriculum for a first time.