Learning Styles: Should You Care?

Posted on April 13, 2010 
Filed Under Homeschool, Inspiration

In the How to Raise Boy series you read in previous posts, I talked about some of the things I learned along the way. Perhaps you noticed that there were differences in the things that each boy asked me to share. One asked me to see something interesting he had found (keyword is SEE); another wanted me to see what he had done and watch what he could do with it (keyword is DO); and the other wanted me to hear something that inspired him (keyword is HEAR).

Those keywords correspond to specific learning styles:


Each of these three boys has a different dominant learning style, and even in adulthood, their interests and activities are approached through this dominant trait. I started studying learning styles when they were very young, because it was obvious that my eldest son was not processing information in the same way I did (I’m a verbal/visual learner). He had an almost uncanny ability to remember everything he heard, but seemed to easily forget or be distracted from things he read. It was obvious that teaching him using my learning style was not going to be very effective. His strengths encouraged us to read aloud more and led us to greater use of audio resources and discussion as a learning tool.

You probably know where I’m going with this. It’s important to meet each of your children where they are, and to enjoy their strengths and help strengthen their weaknesses. In working with them, you’ll begin to develop areas of learning you didn’t even realize you needed. By accepting who they are and appreciating their individual gifts, you will grow and help them to grow. And by being willing to let each of them learn, explore, and share in their own God-given learning style, you can help to forge a relationship that will stand the test of time. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Addendum: A couple of people have wondered if I had only three sons, and the answer is “no.” My fourth son is married, so he usually manages to escape being featured as an illustration;-). However, I’ll note that yesterday he sent me a beta version of the new software he’s developing and asked me to look at it and help test it. He’s a gifted visual learner, and I thoroughly enjoy seeing his projects as well. He and my sweet daughter-in-law are expecting their first baby in October, so all of us are excited about that. So– four in all, plus my lovely DIL, and I love them every one (with apologies to Tiny Tim).

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