Growing up, I loved school. I loved being a student. In college, I majored in Christian Education. I was very much a traditional “good student.” The idea of being a career or perpetual student was my dream. Today, I get to live that dream. As a homeschool mom, I am a perpetual student. As I teach my children each day, I also get to learn from them. I know my learning style. And, like most teachers, I tend to teach the way I learn best. But I have 4 children –all unique individuals with different preferences, talents, and strengths. They don’t always learn the same way I do, or the same way each other does. Knowing and understanding their learning styles has challenged me to be a better, more compassionate teacher. It has helped me to meet their academic needs and to make adjustments when necessary to help them learn more effectively.

What is a Learning Style?

Simply put, “learning styles” refers to the understanding that everyone learns differently. A person’s learning style is their preferred way of absorbing, processing, comprehending, and retaining information.

How Many Learning Styles are there?

Some experts say there are as many different learning styles as there are individuals. Others say there is no such thing. But most fall somewhere in between.

Here are just a few examples:

• Learning Styles: This model says that there are 8 distinct learning styles (Linguistic/Verbal, Logical/Mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Musical/Rhythmic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Natural). But while they are all distinct, each overlaps with and impacts the others in some way.
• 7 Learning Styles: This model consists of seven main learning styles (Physical, Verbal, Aural/Auditory, Visual, Logical, Social, and Solitary), with multiple sub-types branching off of each one.
• Experiential Learning Styles: Other models emphasize how we experience information, rather than how we take it in. One model breaks our learning experience into 4 categories: Activists, Reflectors, Theorists, and Pragmatists.
• Intelligence Types: Some say learning styles are types of intelligence. Have you ever heard someone referring to themselves as a “Math Person,” or an “English Person”? Think about how the SATs are categorized. In this type of model, Intelligence Types are: Logical/Mathematical (numbers, order, logic, puzzles, and problem solving), Musical/Rhythmic (music, illustrations, sound), Verbal/Linguistic (descriptive, creative, detail-oriented, listeners), and Visual/Spatial (pictures, visualization, graphic organizers).
• Split Brain Theory: This divides people into one of only 2 categories. In this theory, Left-Brained people tend to be characterized by: Analytical Thought, Detail-Oriented Perception, Ordered Sequencing, Rational Thought, Verbal, Cautious, Planning, Math/Science, Logic, and are often right-sided dominant (or right-handed).
• Right-Brained people are assumed to be better with: Intuitive Thought, Holistic Perception, Random Sequencing, Emotional Thought, Non-Verbal, Adventurous, Impulsive, Creative Writing/Artistic, Imagination, and are usually Left-Side Dominant (or left-handed).
• VAK/VARK Model: One of the most popular and widely accepted models says that there are three learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic, known by the acronym VAK. (You may also see the acronym VARK used somewhat interchangeably, which includes Read/Write as a fourth, separate style.) While there may be some validity to each of the other models, it is often thought that they are largely based on the 3 (or 4) styles in the VA(R)K Model, so these are the 3 that we are going to look at.



What’s Your Style?


How does your child learn best? It’s okay if you don’t know.

A Visual Learner tends to learn best (not only!) by seeing. They may understand and remember information better when it is presented in a visual format (pictures, graphic organizers, maps). And, you probably find illustrations or doodles in the margins of their notes or assignments. Visual learners often “talk with their hands” or use descriptive language when speaking.

The Read/Write Learner will learn best by reading information or writing it down. Not surprisingly, these learners do well with traditional textbook and study methods. They enjoy reading for fun. In math, they tend to do better with word problems as opposed to numeric equations.

Auditoy Learners will learn best by hearing. They love words, and often have extensive vocabularies. They might interrupt often and blurt out their questions. But they aren’t afraid to share their opinions or make comments. And, they typically remember and follow spoken directions and instructions very well.

Your Kinesthetic Learner will probably want to do it himself. They may be easily distracted or seem bored during more traditional learning activities. But they learn best by doing. Kinesthetic Learners love hands-on activities. They need to move and engage all of their senses.

Do you see your child (or yourself?) in any of these? What if they fit into more than one?

Multimodality (or Multimodal Learner) is the most common profile for two-thirds of people. Learning styles can, and often do, overlap. So some people will have an equal preference for, or strengths in multiple styles, while others will adapt their learning style to fit the situation.

Not all children (or adults!) fit neatly into a single category. And, like fashions, favorite foods, or favorite colors, learning styles and preferences can also change over time, as children grow and develop. You can still give your children a solid homeschool education without knowing their preferred learning style. But, an understanding of your child’s unique strengths, preferences, and abilities can help you to implement teaching and learning strategies that will make sense to them, which will, in turn, help keep them engaged in learning, and maybe even create better attitudes and smoother homeschool days…for everyone.



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Meet the Author


Veronica Whitley - HomeWorks by Precept Consultant
homeworksbyprecept.com/Veronica-Whitley