Your child's learning style - The key to their success (2)

THE VISUAL LEARNER - What you see is what you...remember.

For the visual learner, seeing is everything. If you want to explain a route to somewhere, the visual learner either has to picture the area as you explain, visualizing as you go, or they prefer if you write down directions or draw a map. The visual learner processes information best if it is taught or explained in a visual way.

So, for the visual learner, school may be something in which they thrive.

Most of the teaching and work that is done in class is done in a visual way – writing words on the board, projecting slide shows or pictures or videos onto the board, completing worksheets, writing essays, the list goes on and on. In the classroom, these learners are generally the ones who enjoy working in quietness on their own. They struggle with auditory distractions such as other children talking or annoying sounds (eg: the child behind them humming, or drilling or banging from construction).

So when it comes to doing homework, studying, learning or memorizing new information, everything should be done as visually as possible.

Here are a few strategies you can use to help your child learn better in a visual way:

-  Mind maps – some children prefer pictures, some prefer words. Make a mind map of all of the important information in a new topic.

-  Flash cards – write/draw new information on flash cards – a different section on each card. Read them, arrange them into groups or topics, cover the information, read the heading and try to remember the information, cover the heading, read the info and try to remember the heading.

-  Write out spelling words or timestables multiple times, trying to remember more off by heart as you go.

-  Use a whiteboard or chalkboard with different colours for different sections.

-  Write out questions in the form of a test then answer the questions.

-  Write out questions and answers on cards and scramble them up, then try to match the correct answer to each question.

(So many ideas! Can you tell I’m a visual learner!?)

These are things you can use to help your child to learn new information and remember all they need to in order to excel in that upcoming test or exam.

And the golden rule for learning… MAKE IT FUN!

If you’re bored, your child is even more so – when it’s fun, it sticks!