Learning Styles and Homework

Research confirms that every child has his or her learning style: that is, the way in which they best learn and memorise new things. “Children can learn virtually anything if allowed to do it through their own personal strengths,” says Barbara Prashnig, an international education expert. “We all learn through our ears, eyes, hands and body. But some children learn through their hands a lot better than through their eyes. And that means that they need to construct a hydrogen molecule out of sticks rather than just stare at a diagram of one.”

 Your child has unique needs and non-preferences when it comes to the way they learn and do homework. There is no such thing as a difficult learner - only a learner who hasn’t realised how to learn according to their learning style.

Here are a few examples of doing homework creatively based on your child’s unique learning style:

• Auditory - the child likes to interact verbally: Make a learning tape together with your child. Let her explain the new topic into the tape recorder.
• Tactile - the child has a strong need to use hands when concentrating or listening: Encourage your child to make their own memory aids: sculptures of molecules or board games depicting new topics.
• Holistic - the child needs to understand the whole idea before they can details: Convert the homework concepts to analogies and stories from the child’s own experience.

For more ideas, please consult the LSA Interpretation Manual.