Identify your child’s style of learning to support it
It has been a disrupted year in education, with many parents now wondering how they can help their children most in academic work.
Every teenager is unique, and so is the way in which they learn. Classroom teaching can usually only offer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ overview of the syllabus. So, what are the different learning styles, and what should your teen do once they’ve recognised the particular ways they take in knowledge and learn best?
Leading EdTech platform MyTutor reveals an ultimate guide to some of the ways our children learn as well as the most common learning techniques available.
1 The logical learner: For mathematicians, physicists, architects and even the musicians out there, everything makes sense if it’s in a logical system. Categorising and sequencing different pools of information can help them break things down into systems they can remember.
2 The social learner: Some kids learn best by discussing what they’re learning with others. This could be in the classroom, in small groups after school or in a pair with a friend. If they find topics tricky or need some extra help, lessons with a one-toone tutor can be perfect for these sorts of learners.
3 The visual learner: Visual learners understand things best by looking. If they can translate information into diagrams, illustrations or mind maps then it can help them remember the trickiest topics. That could mean drawing quick illustrations next to words when language learning, or creating a visual timeline to remember historical dates and events.
4 The verbal learner: If your child learns best by saying things out loud, they might be a verbal (also known as a linguistic) learner. This means that when it comes to tests and revision, they can memorise things by using rhymes, acronyms, and other word games to remember numbers, sums, languages, dates and anything else they need to learn.
5 The physical (or kinaesthetic) learner: These guys remember things best when
their bodies are engaged, not just their minds. Sitting still can be particularly hard for physical (also known as kinaesthetic) learners, and often they’ll have a sporty side too. To optimise their learning, weaving in activities such as practical experiments for subjects like biology and chemistry is a great way to make new knowledge soak in. For written subjects such as English, history, politics or languages, highlighting, note-taking and making flashcards can help them engage better and remember.
6 The solitary learner: Some young people study best on their own where they have the space to fully focus and think deeply about what they’re learning. If this sounds like your teen, it’s extra helpful for them to have a desk in a quiet corner of their house (if possible!) where they can knuckle down. Although school and
public libraries may be a bit more difficult to use at the moment, they can also be a really useful place for teens.
7 The auditory learner: If your teen takes in knowledge best by listening, they could be an auditory learner. This learning style lends itself well to classroom learning, as well as audiobooks and podcasts in their own time. They could try recording lists of quotations for English Lit and vocabulary for French and Spanish before listening back to soak in the knowledge.
In light of the difficulties and changes to education during the past year, MyTutor were joined by learning expert Barbara Oakley for their webinar ‘How to Learn’, which offers advice to teens about how they can reach their potential when it comes to studying. The free webinar can be found at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Nd5SnlnRDrE site.