Understanding Your Child's
Learning Style

Your learning style is the way in which you learn best. Each person has a personal learning style. Here are some basic differences in learning style.

• People are organized or not-so-organized. Some people prefer to learn in an orderly, structured way. Others prefer a less-structured and more random style.
• People have different preferences for learning through their senses. Some people are visual in learning style; that is, they prefer to see what they are learning. Others are auditory learners and prefer to hear what they are learning. Still others are kinesthetic, preferring to move their bodies as they learn. Some people use all their senses as they learn.
• People have different preferences for time of day. Some learn best in the morning'; others prefer the afternoon; still others prefer the evening.
• Some people like to deal with many ideas and possibilities all at once. Others prefer to deal with only a few ideas at a time. In addition, some people like to start with the big picture and then explore the details and parts. Others prefer to start with the parts and work toward the whole.

A person's learning style seems to be a combination of both experience and personality. It's important to understand that there is no "best learning style." Every learning style can be effective if the person understands how he or she learns best. At the same time, that doesn't mean you can't improve in an area that is not a learning style strength.

Don't confuse what your child prefers to do with his or her learning style. He or she might prefer to watch TV before doing math homework. That's a preference, not an aspect of one's learning style.

Ask your child if she or he knows about learning style. If the answers is "Yes," ask your child to explain the concept to you. If your youngster does not know about this concept, tell him or her about it. In either case, help your child identify his or her learning style. You can use the characteristics described above to guide you in the discussion.

Help your child understand that any learning style includes both strengths and limitations. Involve your child in identifying those strengths and limitations in her or his learning style. Do the same with your learning style. Then, talk about how those strengths and limitations affect both of you as you learn, work, relax etc.

Talk with your child about how his or her learning style affects his or her schoolwork. Encourage your child to identify both ways in which his or her learning style helps in school and ways in which it might create problems. Then, talk with your child about how he or she might solve these problems. For example, if your child is a visual learner whose history teacher rarely uses pictures, maps or charts, discuss what your child can do to learn better in this kind of classroom. Or, if your child learns best in the morning but tries to do homework late at night, discuss that she/he might want to get up earlier and complete the homework in the morning before school. Remember that preferences should not be confused with learning style.

What are the best ways to learn more about learning style? Your child's teachers, guidance counselor or principal can offer more information. The Pinnacle study skills program is also a great to sharpen up the way a student can leverage his or her learning style for a best performance.

The Pinnacle study skills program is a great way to sharpen up the way a student can leverage his or her learning style for a best performance.