By the time your child starts school, you usually have some ideas about what her strengths and weaknesses are.
Unless there are some early identifiable delays, as a parent we take for granted that our child will be able to keep up with the daily schoolwork expectations, especially in the early years.
If that turns out not to be the case, or if she begins to struggle at some point, we suspect either that she's not trying her hardest, or that there's some social/emotional distraction, or maybe she's just not "book smart."
In some instances, we may seek extra tutoring, or even have our child tested for things like dyslexia or developmental issues that might change the way she learns.
One thing that's often overlooked -- but that's fortunately beginning to be recognized -- is that our child's learning style may be the only barrier between her and the information she needs to succeed in a certain class or classes.
The Seven Learning Styles
There are seven recognized learning styles:
▪ Visual: You prefer pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
▪ Aural: You prefer using sound and music.
▪ Verbal: You prefer spoken and written words.
▪ Physical: You prefer using your body, hands, and sense of touch.
▪ Logical: You prefer logic, reasoning, and systems.
▪ Social: You prefer to learn in groups with other people.
▪ Solitary: You prefer to work alone and use self-study.
While it's not likely that any of us are limited to just one learning style, most people have two to three styles that are dominate.
And for some kids, this can create a real stumbling block. If the teacher is presenting all of the material verbally, and your child is a visual and aural learner who just doesn't get it when it's presented verbally, he's going to appear to have a learning issue that doesn't really exist.
When the same material is presented to him visually, his abilities to do well on that subject may in fact exceed the norm, where he was failing when only getting verbal instruction.
There is nothing new about the concept of learning styles, you can probably identify for yourself how you best take in and process information even as an adult.
The Importance of Learning Styles in the Classroom
What is changing, are educators' views on how much emphasis should be placed on making sure each child's unique learning style should be taken into consideration in placing him in the appropriate learning environment.
Research shows that your child's learning style influences how he "internally comprehends experiences, recalls memories and information, and even influences the specific words [he] chooses[s] to use in speech."
Because many teachers still rely on the traditional textbook and lecture approach to instruction that emphasizes repetition and memorization, students who don't rely on verbal and logical learning can be at a real disadvantage.
According to research done by Learning Styles, these traditional methods often result in students being labeled "bright" and "not so bright" simply based on their learning styles rather than the cognitive abilities they actually possess.
How to Use This Information to Help Your Child
While we all have our preferred learning styles, some kids will be able to adapt to their non-preferred styles better than others.
If your child is having trouble and there isn't an obvious cause, start with looking at her learning style and comparing it to how the information that's challenging her is being delivered.
If you're not sure what her learning styles are, look back to her favorite hobbies and other areas she excels in and think about how she learned in these areas.
You can even do a small experiment and teach her something new using different methods. Older kids can tell you what learning styles felt most comfortable, and you'll be able to see it in the younger kids.
Talk to the relevant teachers and see how knowledgeable the school is about learning styles. With a little education and persistence, you might be surprised at how willing the school is to accommodate your child's needs. (Especially when they figure out that several of their students' performances can be improved if they focus on multiple learning styles!)
If you feel strongly that you're on to something and the school isn't accommodating you, you may be able to get an IEP (Individual Education Plan) requiring the school to provide instruction that meets your child's learning styles, especially if you can get a professional opinion documenting his needs.
Short of seeking an IEP, you can also find tutors willing to focus on your child's learning styles.
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