Learning Styles of Children 1 - Auditory/Verbal Learners

Recently I prepared a talk for a church group about the learning styles of children. I learned quite a bit while researching this subject. In the next few posts, I'll explain each common style and share a little bit about how they play out in everyday life.

One kind of style is auditory learning. Many people think that an auditory learning style means that a child learns best by hearing someone speak, but actually they often learn best by hearing themselves speak. We all know a few of these people – children and adults. They are talkative, chatty, and in children especially they repeat what they hear and also “hang around” adults to hear what they are saying.

Skills include:

listening

storytelling

speaking

explaining

writing

teaching

using humor

remembering information

In a classroom or learning situation, children with this learning style benefit from question and answer times, sharing ideas or stories with a group, and working with another child that they can help or instruct.

Challenge them to understand the syntax and meaning of words – encourage dictionary work, word study, and grammar study. Let them have a chance to express their point of view about something, especially in the context of a debate or critical thinking exercise. They may also benefit from reading books aloud rather than silently.

I am mostly an auditory learner, and I used to love reading through the dictionary. (My dad said it kept me interested because it changed subject so often!) So for auditory learners, studying language (etymology) can become a lifelong pursuit. To this day, reading or hearing information and then telling it to someone else is like breathing to me. I can't not do it.

Coming soon - visual learners!