Everyone has a way in which they best learn. As a teacher, you will find that your classroom is filled with students who have various learning styles. With a class full of children who learn in different ways, it can be difficult to be an effective teacher and reach your students the way you would like. That is, however, if you do not understand how to teach the various learning styles. If you are able to incorporate a variety of methods that can help you teach the vast majority of your students, it will allow for a more successful classroom. Let’s take a look at the three most common learning types and how teachers can accommodate these styles of learning.
Visual Learning
Visual learners prefer seeing things to help them learn. So, they are more receptive to pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, and films, etc. These learners will use phrases like “show me,” and they perform at their best when they can read the instructions or watch someone else do it first. Here are some best practices to accommodate visual learners:
- Use maps, or flowcharts to organize learning materials
- Highlight or color code important information or terms
- Write out checklists of important formulas, commonly misspelled words
Auditory Learning
A student with an auditory learning style prefers receiving information through listening, whether that be from spoken word of themselves or others, or through sounds and noises. You will notice that these students use phrases like “can you explain this to me” or “let’s talk this over.” They will also be able to perform best when they hear the instructions of a new task from an expert. Take a look at the best ways to accommodate any auditory learners in your classroom:
- Engage in conversation with the student regarding the subject matter
- Challenge your students with questions about the material
- Ask for oral summaries of the lesson
- Read material out loud
- If possible, use a talking calculator
- Use a song or rhythm to help your students remember information
Kinesthetic Learning
The third most common learning style is kinesthetic. These students prefer the physical experience such as touching, holding, and general hands-on encounters with materials. These learners will be quick to use phrases like “let me try” as they will be able to best perform a new task by jumping right in and trying it out, learning as they go. Students who are kinesthetic learners typically do not read the instructions beforehand. Below are some best practices to help kinesthetic learners:
- Using role play to dramatize different concepts
- Using a form of body movement like snapping fingers or foot tapping to remember material