A Dozen Ways to Support Learning Styles
For students who take in information with their senses: When presenting lessons:
- Include specifics, facts, and details, show why it is realistic and makes sense.
- Include real life applications and examples of where this has worked before.
- Some students must have the big picture, or an integrating framework, to understand a subject. Strategies that work:
- Give an overview of the day's lesson(s) at the beginning, Put information in context.
- Some students are decisive, planful and self regimented. They focus on completing the task, only want to know the essentials, and take action quickly (perhaps too quickly). Teach these students:
- Split Page Color Coded Notes (They love organizational systems)
- Remind Judging types to check their answers and take a second look when solving problems.
- Other learning styles often postpone doing an assignment until the very last minute. They seek information to the very last minute (and sometimes beyond). For these students:
- Break down assignments and teach them to use graphic organizers
- Logical justice oriented students like clear course and topic objectives.
- Structure the class material logically.
- Be succinct. Teachers who ramble lose thinking students.
- Interpersonal, values based students like working in groups, especially harmonious groups.
- To promote harmonious groups, provide students with guidelines on how to work best in a group.
- Show the people impact of what's being taught, especially its importance to the individuals involved.
Extraverted students learn by explaining to others. They do not know if they understand the subject until they try to explain it to themselves or others.
- Allow time for participation and discussion. Use Think, Pair, Shares and Peer Assisted Learning.
- Introverted students want to develop frameworks that integrate or connect the subject matter. To engage Introverts:
- Provide written materials ahead - especially if you want discussion or decisions immediately.
- Pause when asking for response - 20 seconds is effective (but hard for Extroverts.)
- For Visual Spatial Learners
- Make visual organizer or memory model of the material being learned. (Give copies to other students in the class).
For Musical Rhythmic Learners
- Create "raps" (key dates, math, and poems).
- For Naturalist Learners
- Sort and classify content in relation to the natural world.
- For Body Kinesthetic Learners
- Create hands on projects and conduct hands on experiments.
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About the Author
Susan Fitzell is a nationally recognized speaker and author of several educational resource books. She has over two decades of experience with differentiated instruction, teaching youth with special needs, students with behavioral and anger management issues, and students who experience bullying. Susan’s company, AIMHI Educational Programs, focuses on building caring school communities. http://aimhieducational.com/