TACTILE LEARNERS

·        Learn through their sense of touch and using their hands

·        Detect differences in shapes and textures that they touch

·        Recall what they touch

·        Enjoy taking objects apart and putting them back together

·        Learn concepts well through manipulating – anything they can hold and change

·        Learn information and concepts easily

·        Learn by writing, tracing, and playing games

Tactile learners learn best by:

·        Writing, doodling, drawing, games, computer work, manipulating, making things with their hands

·        Drawing letters or numbers with crayons on a washable vinyl placemat and trace them over with their                 fingers

·        Using a lot of three-dimensional learning aids such as flash cards, Scrabble tiles, computers (typing), play           dough or puzzles

·        Writing things down, taking notes

·        Cementing the learning of new words by using them in crosswords, word search, or word puzzles

KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

·        Learn best through whole body movement

·        Detect differences in experiences

·        Recall body movements, experiences, feelings

·        Need movement frequently – can’t sit for long

·        Need the learning situation to have personal relevance to them in order to learn effectively

·        May doodle, tap pencil, rock in their chairs, or swing their legs during class

·        May be a “natural” in instrumental music, industrial arts, and physical education, and usually does well in           lab work

Kinesthetic learners learn best by:

·        Permitting them to move during learning and allowing them frequent breaks

·        Using as much whole-body movement as possible during learning – e.g. jumping out times tables,                     tracing letters in the air, going on a scavenger hunt, etc.

·        Review facts in combination with a physical activity – e.g. reciting information while bouncing a ball,                   listening to an audiobook while they walk 

·        Can make use of materials that have personal relevance to them, where they can literally “put                             themselves in other’s shoes”, whether it be the hero of a story or a historical figure – they need to be                 emotionally involved with their learning in order to be effective

·        Doing role plays, reader’s theatre, mock shows, paint, draw, dance, make things, show and tell, etc.

VISUAL LEARNERS

·        Learn through sense of sight

·        Like descriptions and illustrations while reading

·        Sometimes stop reading and stare into space to picture a scene in their mind

·        Detect visual differences among letters and words

·        Recall what they see better than what they hear

·        Learn by observing

·        Respond to color and shape

·        Prefer charts, diagrams, posters, videos, etc.

·        Are detail oriented and generally keep their work areas tidy

·        Have good visual recall

Visual learners learn best by:

·        Using many visual aids: color, charts, maps, diagrams, flash cards, graphs, etc.

·        Videos, slides, posters, bulletin boards, etc.

·        Building critical thinking skills through visual means – e.g. comparing and contrasting something they                 can see

·        Surrounding themselves with many books and magazines

·        Reading the material first before it is presented in class

·        Watching demonstrations

·        Games – educational computer games, or strategy games like chess, Scrabble or concentration

·        Written print – plays, short stories, poems, scripts, etc.

·        Important points are visually highlighted – underlined, circled

AUDITORY LEARNERS

·        Learn best through their sense of hearing

·        Detect sound differences among letters and words

·        Recall what they hear better than what they see

·        Learn by listening and speaking

·        They usually listen attentively, love to talk, share stories and jokes

·        Love to have stories read to them with lots of expression

·        Memorize well

·        Need to focus on what is being said, and may find other senses distracting

·        Process new information in the sequence in which it was presented

Auditory learners learn best by:

·        Verbal instructions, discussion

·        Tape recordings of books, lessons

·        Talk through the steps of a task, and learn how to think, spell and say syllables out  loud or on tape

·        Using spoken rather than written reports

·        Studying materials by reading them onto a tape and listening to it

·        Hearing information in the classroom first, then reading the related materials and finally making up their             own story or activity about the material

·        Having the teacher tell them first what the assignment is, as well as, writing it up on the board