Learning Styles

What is your child's personal learning style?

Huh?

What type of learner is your child? Visual? Linguistic? Kinesthetic? What does all that mean, anyway?

When my children were young, the theory of learning styles was rather new. In the 1970's, it focused on right-brain and left-brain learning. The theory was that creative, visually minded, dreamers were right-brained, because the right brain was responsible for creative thinking, visual imaging, and spatial experiences. Those who were audio learners, strong in math, and good memorizers were left-brained, because the left hemisphere controlled the logical, mathematical, and symbolic intelligences. Because so many creative individuals are left-handed (remember, the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and visa-versa), the theory seemed to make sense.

However, we now know that the neurological organization of the brain is much more complex. First, the various functions of thinking and learning involve both sides of the brain to varying degrees, not simply one side or the other. Second, although we may display strengths in a certain type of intelligence, humans cannot be categorized into one particular intelligence group.

Mostly by trial and error, I discovered that each of my children had different learning styles. Fortunately, we were homeschooling, so I was able to develop curriculums that would teach to those abilities.

During the 1980's, seven different types of intelligences were recognized and first described in detail by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner in his book, Frames of Mind. These seven kinds of intelligences "provide a solid foundation upon which to identify and develop a broad spectrum of abilities within every child," says Dr. Thomas Armstrong in his book, In Their Own Way. Basically, these intelligences are:

Logical-mathematical
Musical
Bodily-kinesthetic
Linguistic
Spatial
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal

It is likely that upon reading this list, you might recognize one or more of these intelligences in your child or children. Observe how your child spends his or her free time. Does your child spend hours reading books? Drawing intricate pictures? Playing a keyboard and composing songs? Does he or she excel at sports? Is your child a chess whiz?

One of the greatest things about homeschooling is being able to customize your curriculum to the needs of your child. Essential to this process is discovering your child's individual learning style.

To find out more about multiple intelligences and how to discover your child's personal learning style, I suggest getting a copy of Dr. Armstrong's book, In Their Own Way. As I have mentioned before, every homeschooling family should build a homeschool library, and this is one book that should be on the shelf. My own copy was published in 1987; but it was updated and revised in 2000. The book is inexpensive and can be found at Amazon.com (below) or you can find it at your local library.