The Most Common Information is listed first. A parent will find knowing this about their child and themselves helpful. How you tend toward teaching is as important as how they learn. If you're visual and your child is auditory then you may be at crossroads with each other! (o:
There are 4 basic ways people receive information. You will want to choose materials based on how your student is best able to receive and process information.
Visual -
This type of student receives information best through their eyes and what they see and read. Many times this student will teach themselves to read. They often prefer color illustrations and materials that have charts and graphs inside them. If you don't show it to them or give it on paper for them to see they ain't gonna get it!(o:
Auditory -
This type of student learns best by hearing things - either on tape or in a discussion. They often need to be coached and verbally reminded of things. Boys are commonly auditory when young. Auditory learners are also commonly verbally advanced.
Kinesthetic -
This type of student reminds us of the term “energy in motion”. They NEED to make physical contact with things that they are learning about. They put their hands on everything, and will remember best if you let them "do it" for themselves. Give up keeping this one in a seat! (o:
Social -
This student learns by interaction with other people. They need one on one attention. Like to be around people, do group activities.
How can you tell which of these your child is?
1. Is your child attracted to books with bright pictures? Do they need to see a picture of what is being said? Do they need written reminders, or like having posters and visuals? They might be a visual learner.
2. Does your child go around singing all of the time? Humming? Do they remember everything they hear? Do they tend to repeat written or seen things out loud?(read aloud to themselves) Perhaps they are an auditory learner and could use tapes to master new concepts.
3.Does your child need to move around a lot? Touch everything, and handle objects? If you explain something a hundred times and can't get though but let them try it themselves and the light goes on....They might be an kinesthetic learner.
4. Does your child need to talk to you about everything they are studying? Do they want you to work with them? If they sit in a quiet room and can't get it but can if you sit with them....Perhaps they’re a social learner.
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The 7 Intelligences
Dr. Thomas Armstrong has written books dealing with the belief that people have certain "strengths" in one of the 7 areas listed below.
How do you understand?
Global Learner - need to see the big picture, and
doesn't worry a lot about details
Analytical Learner - very detail-oriented and remembers specific facts about things
There are other learning styles which are described in Learning Styles and Tools and Cathy Duffy's Christian Home Educator's
Curriculum Manual. They are based on the Myers-Briggs Inventory Test. The fourcategories are: Thinker, Feeler, Intuitor &
Sensor.
The Gregoric model is based on two parts - how we take in information (perception) and how we process the information (ordering). Each of these two parts is split into two qualities.
Perception:
Concrete - You register information mainly through your five senses. You deal with the here and now. “It is what it is.” (sometimes called a Left-brained approach)
Abstract - You visualize ideas using your intuition, intellect and imagination - looking beyond the obvious to the more subtle implications. “It is not always as it seems.”
(sometimes called a Right-brained approach).
Ordering:
Sequential - Follows a logical train of thought - “Follow the steps.”
Random - Deals with chunks of information (not necessarily in order) - “Just get it done.” When you put the two methods of perceiving information and the two methods of ordering information together, you wind up with four learning “styles”.
They are:
1.Concrete Sequential
2.Abstract Sequential
3.Abstract Random
4.Concrete Random
Concrete Sequential -
These people like to apply ideas in a practical way and focus on facts. They work well within time limits and produce concrete
products from abstract ideas. They like to work systematically
(step by step) and pay close attention to details. Having a schedule to follow makes perfect sense to them - and they want to
know what is expected of them. They like established routines and ways of doing things. They don’t like working in groups or participating in discussions that have no specific point. They also dislike questions where there is no right or wrong answer.
The key questions they ask when learning are:
What facts do I need?
How do I do it?
What should it look like?
When is it due?
Abstract Sequential -
Always looking for the underlying principles, these people like to analyze ideas, research, and provide logical sequence. They
want to use exact, well-researched information and logical
reasoning and learn more by watching than doing.
They dislike not having time to deal with a subject thoroughly, and repeating the same tasks over and over. They also have a
hard time being diplomatic. It is hard for them to not monopolize a conversation.
They want to know:
How do I know this is true?
Have we considered all the possibilities?
Abstract Random -
This person is always looking for personal relevance as they listen sincerely to others and seek to understand feelings and
emotions. They recognize the emotional needs of others and seek
to bring harmony to group situations. They try to personalize their learning and focus on broad, general principles. It is
important to them to maintain friendly relationships with everyone if possible. They tend to decide with their heart and not their head.
It is hard for this type of person to explain or justify their feelings. They often struggle to give exact details or accept even positive criticism. Focusing on one thing at a time is also difficult for them.
They tend to ask:
What does this have to do with me?
How can I make a difference?
Concrete Random -
This person often thinks fast on their feet as they see many options and solutions to things. They seek out the compelling reason for doing what they do - and often find different ways to
do things. They do well at using insight and instinct to solve problems and do better with general time frames than specific
deadlines. They dislike restrictions and limitations, formal reports, routines, redoing anything once it is done, keeping detailed records, and showing how they got an answer.
They frequently ask:
How much is really necessary?
How Analytic Are You?
Analytic Strengths:
What you should know about the analytic style!
~likes things ordered in a step-by-step way
~pays close attention to details
~must be prepared
~needs to know what to expect
~often values facts over feelings
~prefers to finish one thing at a time
~rarely becomes personally or emotionally involved
~logical
~self-motivated
~finds the facts but sometimes misses the main idea
What frustrates an analytic person?
~having opinion expressed as fact
~not understanding the purpose for doing something
~not understanding how they are graded
~listening to an overview without knowing all the steps involved
~dealing with generalities
~having to find personal meaning in all that they learn
~not finishing one task before going on to the next
How Global Are You?
Global Strengths:
As a Christian I believe you should always concider your spiritual gift. Each believer is endowed with the spiritual gifts, one is your strength. Often we place so much importance on the "sycy" of things that we forget about what God intends for us as people. So I encourage you find out what your spiritual strengths are if you don't know. Go with what God designed for you to do. You will be happier, more fulfilled and a better teacher. (o: (FYI My two strongest spiritual gifts are teaching/service and I'm a kinesthetic/audio learner, concrete random, and very global.)
Background by Phillis Smith