Learning takes many forms. Each of us have favorite ways of taking in information. The following 3 are common for many students. To reach them, you will need to vary the way you present information so you incorporate more than one way to learn during each activity.
Verbal-Linguistic Learners
These learners take in information through language. They are the talkers, the kids who carry on conversations under their breaths. They ask lots of questions when they are learning something new. They love to share their ideas and have no problem speaking to others. They love words, like to write and read and may follow you around telling you about something that happened in their day or on a break; “Can I tell you about my new pet?”. To engage them, have them share their ideas and projects aloud as well as restating the objectives of a task.
Visual-Spatial Learners
Images and imagination are their favorite things. They say “Oh, I see”, “Want to see my new book?”, an indication that they take things through reading and observing the world around them. They may have an interest in the art or drawings related to a task. Let them start with the drawing and then do the writing. It helps them focus and their final product will be more complete.
Kinesthetic Learners
When students wiggle around, want to stand to work and need lots of space, they are learners who just want to ‘do it’. “Can I start now?”, “Can I see it (interpret that to often mean ‘can I hold it)?” They want to engage with objects and activities because they use their body to help them take in information. They love to volunteer to act out ideas and find and touch the river on the map. They seem impatient, but they are anxious to “do it” so they can begin processing to learn more about the task.
When you introduce a new activity. Use meaningful language, show them images or the text and allow them to touch and do something related to the task. You’ll reach more students when you try to accommodate these 3 kinds of learners.