Kinesthetic Learning Style

Just like individual preferences for clothing or food, Kindergarten and early elementary school students exhibit distinct learning styles. As grade levels and academic expectations increase, many of these learning traits prove to be delightful and appealing; other areas—not so much! Within the same family, one child may seem to be a good fit for parental teaching style, while another seems—let's put it as delicately as possible—difficult. However, in many cases the cause of this difficulty can be attributed, at least in part, to an incompatibility between the parent's style of learning and teaching as opposed to the easiest method for the child.

For instance, you may have found it easy to learn to spell in school, just by seeing

a word and visualizing it. This may cause consternation if your early elementary school son or daughter spells words three different ways in the same day, learning a new word one day and forgetting it the next. In order to reconcile our children's learning differences, we must first understand ourselves.
Begin exploring learning characteristics using Discover Your Learning Style (home-school.com/news/discover-your-learning-style.php). Note that an additional category--”Read/Write”--could also be described as a person who combines visual (reading) and kinesthetic (writing) methods to learn. You also might try taking another learning style test, at homeworktips.about.com/qz/Learning-Style-Quiz.
My learning style test results were as I expected: I am a strong visual learner who prefers to “see demonstrations, diagrams, slides, charts, and other visual aids in the classroom...” In direct contrast, one of my adult children received test results saying "As a tactile learner, you like to get active as you learn...You remember things best once you've experienced them."
Even in cases where parents and children learn in similar ways, it is still not wise to assume that what works for one child will work for all. As you better understand your own and your children's optimal learning styles, you can find ways to optimize resources and curriculum.
Young early elementary school students may not exhibit strong learning preferences, and may not respond well to learning style or academic testing. However, you can discover much about them through observation. Keep records in a folder or electronic file, describing the activity and results. For instance, when offered a choice, did your child prefer to learn a new math concept through exploring manipulative objects such as Cuisenaire blocks, by reading a text and taking a quiz, or by listening to an audio lesson? Or perhaps, as is commonly experienced, your student required all three, consolidating learning only after experiencing lessons presented multiple times in many different formats.
If you find that child child primarily learns visually, you can make learning easier by providing written material such as practice workbooks with colorful charts and illustrations. You will find that most traditional and public school curriculum publishers produce materials with visual learners in mind; thus, students with a strong preference for this learning style generally do well on standardized tests. Your visual learner may have learned to read at an early age, retaining new vocabulary and spelling words with little effort. Visual learners enjoy reading about a new skill as opposed to imitating an instructor—they may not enjoy group learning. They may enjoy spending their free time reading “living history” books, such as those listed at bethlehembooks.com. Some visual learners may need to use ear plugs or headphones to shut out distracting noises and activities. They find it more efficient and pleasurable to read material in a text, and may find discussion groups a waste of time. Visual learners often struggle to learn new skills which are presented orally; help them learn to write notes with different colored pens and draw illustrations to help them comprehend new concepts. Educational co-ops can offer opportunities to interact with other types of learners and teachers, illustrating that "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning." (Pro. 1:5) As highly visual students expand their horizons, they can also "be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." (James 1:22).
Doers—kinesthetic learners--must move to learn, and enjoy learning methods and curriculum which incorporate their sense of touch—for example, lapbook making, and Montessori materials.

Try free apps and online educational games, such as Owl and Mouse (yourchildlearns.com/owlmouse.htm). In many cases, hands-on learners can “show” you how to do a task, but cannot demonstrate this knowledge verbally or using a written test. A child with a strong learning preference for kinesthetic learning thrives when presented with real objects, such as addition and subtraction with geo boards, craft sticks bundled into sets, letter tiles, learning wrap-ups, counting frame/abacus and math blocks. Create your own learning games; find ideas at Kent State University's Parent Made Developmental Toys, literacy.kent.edu/Oasis/PACT/toc.html. Donna Young (donnayoung.org/homeschooling/games/game-boards.htm) offers free printable game boards and dice; take turns moving game markers as your child correctly answers questions (such as math facts). Use pennies or small toys for markers. Doers also shine when presented with word problems, real world learning applications, science projects, and Handwriting Without Tears (hwtears.com) writing activities. In a homeschool co-op setting, they will do best in activity based, hands-on type programs such as Miquon Math's lab using cuisenaire rods.Some learners find it difficult to transition from object and finger counting to abstract concepts--and this trend

may continue through advanced math, algebra and geometry. This can drag down processing speed, making it difficult to demonstrate that they can understanding advanced concepts. Although kinesthetic students may score poorly on traditional, standardized tests, they often perform well with alternative testing and portfolio evaluations which incorporate video and computer testing records.
Maybe your student isn't a mover and a shaker, but would rather sit still and listen. Auditory learners may struggle with kinesthetic or written material; they must hear lessons, in order to remember. They prefer listening to books on tape, and may not be distracted by background music as they study. In fact, they may actually comprehend their subjects better if they study while listening to instrumental or classical music. They may need to read material aloud in order to comprehend it well, or have someone else read it to them. Auditory learners love musical resources such as lyricallearning.com for science and godswordstoliveby.com for Bible study. They prefer mnemonic chants or rhymes to practice math facts, skip counting, science vocabulary words, or any new skill. Kathy Troxel (Audiomemory.com) says that “you never forget what you sing!” For auditory learners, this statement is doubly true. Directly teaching advanced phonics accelerates the transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” as your “hearer” learns that words are just sounds written down. Auditory learners enjoy discussing material in a group, and will likely learn well in homeschool co-op classes. This learning type often prefers to listen to material that is read aloud, even into the teen years (and beyond). Traditional testing may be difficult for auditory learners; alternative testing options such as narration and portfolio evaluations.
Regardless of learning style, try teaching new concepts using interactive, multimedia materials which engage all of the senses--sight, hearing, touch--even taste and smell. Although often neglected senses, taste and smell can be powerful motivators and rewards. For example, you might teach fractions by baking a homemade pizza, or division with small candies. Also take note of less obvious teachable moments such as quarter notes in math—four beats to a measure. Decimals make more sense when adding up food prices in a grocery store ad—pick a special yummy treat to buy, and celebrate a new skill! Many children enjoy using a special scented pencil as they write their lessons, and memorable geography lessons begin with a meal from the country of interest.
Find out more in books such as Cathy Duffy's 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, which offers tips for identifying your child's learning style.

Ask your local librarian for more curriculum recommendations. Consider sharing or borrowing books, audio tapes, and manipulative learning materials from a like-minded homeschool family.

Many homeschoolers have experienced success with unit study resources which engage all the senses—especially if they teach several children together, each with a different learning style. Find out more about unit studies through resources such as Christian educator Kathryn Stout's designastudy.com. You may like to design your own study; if so, research multi-media materials through free online sources such as americanheritage.org/links. For a multi-sensory approach to reading, try materials available through AVKO (Audio, Visual, Kinesthetic, & Oral) Foundation, avko.org. According to the Chinese proverb:

"I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I

understand."
Find your children's optimal learning styles and engage all their senses, and they will never, ever forget their lessons! As the old saying says, we can catch more flies with honey than we can we vinegar, so it pays to make the learning process as pleasant as possible. In the past, teachers placed a drop of honey on a slate for children to lick after reading scriptures. Although we probably shouldn't put honey on our schoolbooks, we can aid retention when we match resources to learning styles and reward a job well done. David exclaimed in Psalm 119:103: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”