I am trying to put together an infographic on children's learning styles. Do you know your child's best way to learn? It really helps with chosing the best teaching method! Primary ways: Visual- Visual learners prefer pictures, graphs, charts, and diagrams to help them digest information. Auditory - Auditory learners prefer sound and verbalization, and pick up things quickly if they are allowed to work through problems verbally. Kinesthic (Tactile) - Kinesthetic learners prefer doing, touching and direct involvement in projects. They are usually very high-energy kids Cast your vote! Janice E (Mom of Four)
I'm curious to know what your plans are for this infographic. Honestly, after doing this for so many years, I don't think any kid fits into a specific learning style any better than they all fit into a one size fits all cardboard box.
I agree with Crazymama. It also depends on the subject. I just taught a Study Skills class at co-op. I had my Study Skills students do a learning preferences questionnaire. Only two out of the fifteen students had a clear "preference." The other 13 were a close mix. One of the sources I used to prepared for the class indicated that learning preferences are insignificant. We all have to learn to take in information in different ways regardless of how we prefer it. The push to cater to "learning styles" in the past twenty years or more may have handicapped some children who know believe that they "CAN'T" learn anything unless it is put into a catchy jingle with graphics.
I am just starting to put my feelers out for an article on both the learning styles of children AND teaching preferences by parents, and how to make them work hand in hand. Very interesting that you both find it varies widely by subject. Thinking about it, it really does make sense. Maybe these learning style "assessments" that are going around right now need to be a bit more comprehensive and broken down into subject area - or teaching parents how to integrate? Ochumagache, thank you for the questionnaire info. Very good food for thought. As far as infographics - I am new to them and trying to come up with a good one for this topic. Also - ochumagache (are you Cheyenne?) would you recommend integrating teaching methods as a rule, or trial and error with each child?
You are the only person to ever recognize Ochumgache as a Cheyenne word! No...I'm not Cheyenne; the Native American in me is but a diluted cell, but I admire many things about the Native American culture which is why I use "Little Wolf" as my online moniker. I think trial and error in the homeschool setting is the most effective. We have great maneuverability has homeschooling parents. I can adjust my teaching methods or try new tactics at the snap of a finger. We also have the benefit of immediate feedback. Unlike a teacher who has thirty children to teach, we sit beside our students and know immediately if they are "zoning out" or simply not "getting it." If you look through the posts on here, you will see that most of us are very flexible with our teaching styles. I don't think anyone is so set on their preferences that they won't adjust to meet the needs of their children. You'll see that we come here when we hit a road block and try to pick up a new strategy to deal with it. Having a tool box of strategies is helpful. However, I think it is even more important for our children to be a part of discovering the right strategies which requires trial and error. It's part of learning how to learn and learning how to solve problems. Information will not always be packaged in the way they would like it to be, so they need to take ownership of taking it the way it is and repackaging it themselves. Involving them in the process gives them the tools to overcome their own roadblocks which may be different once they are an adult in college or the work place.
One of my boys usually learns by hearing, and can't sit still. But when we were doing organ placement in anatomy, he was lost without graphics and a scale model. And sometimes, he's too overstimulated to focus on listening. But the visual concentration needed to read is able to keep his attention. How would I even begin to classify him? And that's just one of the four!
I think I must have a diluted cell as well - I am fascinated by all things Native American, and their own personal life philosophies as well. I actually do a lot of research on eastern tribes and published an NA fiction romance novel last March. Anyway - that's off topic lol - I loved your response about how you incorporate technique and even change up throughout homeschool lessons, would you mind if I incorporated it into an article I am writing on learning styles and homeschool teaching methods? If so, let me know how you would wish to be quoted!
Alice, you need to change your avatar to a wolf. My husband is obsessed with Ojibway. He tries to speak it...as in answering the phone or saying a greeting to people....who look at him like huh?? We have a teepee in our backyard. He even has this on his work truck: Apakwaanaajiinh Inini :roll: Sorry....this has nothing to do with the original post.
Heh.. Batman is into Native Americans... hmmmmm maybe he gets his super powers from The Great Spirit.
Yeah....and when he meets someone and says, "Boozhoo! Aaniin ezhinikaazoyan? Aaniin endaa-izhi-wiidookoonaan?", it really throws people for a loop when he has on his batman suit, complete with cape and mask.
Closest I could get in Cheyenne would be mase makohe. Which means happy monkey. Buuuutt....since we all know that your picture is not a monkey....you're gonna have to go with mase me'sene. Which means happy hairy face. So, you got a couple of options..... :lol:
You guys are cracking me up!!! Cherokee over here - 1/8th. Great grandmother was full blooded. High cheekbones, arched eyebrows, easily tanning skin - favorite things I received! And on learning styles, I find that kids may start one way as a younger student, but the style of learning changes and evolves as they grow. They may still use the BASE style for certain subjects, but change to other styles for other subjects. I find also, that we as their teachers have a preferred teaching style, that sometimes may not match their learning style and so WE have to adapt as much as THEY do. Does that make sense? I am fascinated by learning styles! I feel like you need to STUDY your child and know the way the work before you can even begin to teach them anything!
