There are a number of different ways that children vary in their personalities and traits, and some of these specifics can be seen in the way kids learn, both in school and outside of it. Specifically, there are several different well-known learning styles that your child may fall into, each that has different qualities and specific needs.
At Summit Academy, we're proud to offer some of the best public charter school programs available in Riverton and nearby parts of Utah, with a quality curriculum and numerous educational programs for any child and learning style. In this two-part blog series, we'll go over the four most common learning styles known among kids, plus how to tell which your child might fall into and what each of these groups may need in terms of educational support and resources.
Visual Learners
Perhaps the most well-known learning style, visual learners are those who take in information best when they see it. This is often due to having strong spatial awareness and pattern recognition skills. Many kids who are naturally good at art or puzzles tend to be visual learners.
Common qualities of visual learners include:
- Preference for pictures and images over words
- Good at following maps or diagrams
- Easily remember what they see
- Quickly grasp new concepts
Visual learners often do best in school when they can see what they're learning about. They might prefer textbooks with lots of pictures or illustrations, and may benefit from mind mapping or other similar visuals aids. Some visual learners also tend to be good at sign language, as this is another way of representing information through visuals.
Now, there's a misconception that visual learners are only good at visual arts or that they're all "right-brained." This isn't the case! Many visual learners are logical and analytical, and some even prefer reading over other methods (especially if the text is well-written and laid out clearly).
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners are those who take in information best when they hear it. This can manifest in many ways, such as a preference for music or being able to easily remember things said out loud.
Common qualities of auditory learners include:
- Preference for talking and listening over reading and writing
- Good at remembering conversations
- Easily distracted by noise
- Quick to pick up new vocabulary
Auditory learners often do best in school when they can hear the information they're trying to learn. This might mean sitting near the front of the classroom so they can more easily hear the teacher, or using mnemonic devices such as songs or rhymes to better remember what they need to know. Some auditory learners also prefer learning through audio books or podcasts, as these provide another way to take in information through hearing.
In part two of our series, we'll look at a couple other types of learning styles commonly found among kids. For more on this, or to learn about any of our educational programs and services within the Riverton charter school environment, speak to our staff at Summit Academy today.