Did you know there are different styles of learning? We all absorb information in different ways – some may be visual learners, while others are logical. Some might study better with music, or even physical activity! And because every student takes in information differently, we believe it is vital that education isn’t considered “one size fits all.” At Hill School, our teachers take the time to assess the background of each of their students, tailoring their lesson plans to meet each students’ learning style. This way, each child has a chance to succeed in the classroom.
The five main learning styles are visual, verbal, aural, physical and logical. Let’s take a look at the minds of these learners to better understand each one.
- Visual Learners
Does your child learn best when they see a visual representation of the lessons laid out in front of them? If yes, they may be a visual learner! This simply means they prefer pictures over words in order to understand and process information. So, how do we nurture this learning style? Creativity is key. Instead of relying on written-only lessons, our teachers would approach the lesson plans with various visual tools such as graphic organizers, modeling, maps and diagrams. Our visual learners also do well by actively taking notes and utilizing a color-coding system! - Verbal Learners
If your child loves to read and write, they might be a verbal learner. These students learn best through written or spoken words, and typically have a rich vocabulary. Chances are, they might enjoy journaling daily or talking you through their day at school. For these students, we incorporate word games and language-heavy activities into our lesson plans and give them opportunities to verbally express what they’ve learned through presentations or speeches. - Aural Learners
Singers, musicians and movie lovers here! An aural learner is someone who typically absorbs information by listening. Through hearing, they can retain information, so repetition and Q&As are both great ways to nurture your child’s education style. At Hill School, we tend to let aural learners read aloud more frequently, teaching them talk-to-self strategies. Thanks to our 1:1 Technology initiative, our students are able to utilize our tablets for audiobooks and text-to-speech as much as possible. These students also do well with oral instruction and actively listen to their teacher explain the lesson. - Kinesthetic Learners
These students are major hands-on learners. Whether it’s with a fun science project or the use of manipulatives, it’s important that they stay stimulated through physical activity. We find that many of our students have a hard time sitting still. Instead, they digest information better when they can incorporate physical movements. For this, our teachers use Orton-Gillingham tactics of physical touch and feel, clapping and snapping into their lesson plans. At Hill School, these students also have access to bouncing chairs, bounce bands for the foot of their desks and standing desks to help stay stimulated. - Logical Learners
Numbers and problem-solving are these students’ jam! Logical students usually love to take in facts and get excited when given to-do lists. Because they typically are goal-oriented, it’s important to help them set objectives and to encourage them to stay motivated by tracking their progress. These students do well keeping a detailed daily planner and utilizing checklists for homework and assignments, and they like a defined set of rules. Our teachers often see logical learners excel with problem-based learning and hands-on projects.
When your child is diagnosed with a learning difference, understanding both the diagnosis and their learning style can be critical to their progress in the classroom. Whichever way your child learns, Hill School is here to help them succeed. We work with our families to embrace the learning style of their child and plan each lesson with multiple approaches to ensure that our students can digest and retain the information.
At Hill School, we provide an education for students who learn differently by addressing the needs of the whole student in a supportive environment. Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instructional approaches and resources to support their learning in the classroom.