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Now In: Resource Center | Articles | Auditory, Visual, or Kinesthetic
Auditory, Visual, or Kinesthetic
By Martha Halter
Have you ever walked down the aisles of the grocery store muttering your shopping list out loud, only to feel a little silly when someone else hears you? Do you shop at a particular grocery store because it’s visually appealing, even though it is a little more expensive? Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to sit still for more than a few minutes? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and wondered why this is true of you, maybe it’s time to learn more about learning modalities!
I first learned about learning styles by reading The Way They Learn, an amazing book by Cynthia Tobias. Mrs. Tobias has done the research and written it up in an interesting, and even humorous, style. It’s an easy read, and should be, in my opinion, required reading for student teachers. It will help you to understand and appreciate the ways that different people comprehend and remember information. The three modalities are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Let’s take a look at each one.
Visual learners need to have a picture of the concept. If you don’t give them one, they will come up with their own in their head. Visual learners listen much more easily if they can see the person is talking. However, if there is something distracting about the speaker, it may be difficult to pay attention. They like bright, flashy colors and usually like anything BUT blue or black ink! These people benefit from flashcards, posters, and books with illustrations.
Auditory learners need to hear THEMSELVES say the words. Auditory learners talk to anyone who will listen when they need to process information. They need to drill out loud. They get in trouble in class for talking too much. I’m strongly auditory. I found a report card from 2nd grade the other day, and guess what was marked. Yep! “Talks too much in class.” If I have trouble understanding a concept while reading, I will go back and reread it out loud. Then it seems to sink in better. Auditory learners benefit from being allowed to talk through the information, drilling out loud, and having concepts or information set to music.
Kinesthetic learners need to move. Almost constantly. Of course, they get in trouble for fidgeting. And what are they told? “Sit still! Look at me and listen!” Mrs. Tobias says that when we say this to a kinesthetic child, he (because the vast majority of kinesthetic learners are, indeed, boys) has to concentrate so hard on being still that he doesn’t hear a word we say! These learners need to attach some kind of movement to the learning to make it stick. They benefit from cheers and songs with movements that teach content. They need to change positions or locations often to stay focused, and they benefit from frequent breaks. Surprisingly enough, about 40% of us are kinesthetic learners!
Now that you have an introduction to learning styles, think about which one is the easiest to teach in the classroom. The visual kids, right? They just need bright bulletin boards and pictures to go with the learning. The auditory kids need to talk about everything, and the kinesthetic kids need to be in constant motion! So how do you help them?
First of all, give your highly auditory kids a toobaloo. These are great little devices that amplify the student’s voice, but sends it straight into their own ear! It’s perfect for that child that is always talking. Another thing you can do is let your auditory kids get together and talk quietly about the learning. When they get the talking out of their system, they can more easily settle down and work.
What about those kinesthetic kids? Well, let them move! In appropriate ways, of course. Let them work at their desks, or at another table, or even under their desks, as long as they don’t distract other kids. I used to let all of my students work wherever they wanted, as long as they didn’t bother anyone else. At first, every single student went to the floor. Within a day, most of them were back at their desks. Who stayed on the floor? The ones that needed to be down there to work best. You can also give kinesthetic kids koosh balls that they can squeeze under their desks without disturbing anyone else. Teach them how to contract their thigh muscles and then let go, repeating it as long as they need to. By flexing this large muscle, their brain can focus on the task at hand.
This is only the tip of the iceberg of learning styles. To learn more about them, I would suggest reading The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias. You can find more information about Mrs. Tobias at www.applest.com.
Have you ever walked down the aisles of the grocery store muttering your shopping list out loud, only to feel a little silly when someone else hears you? Do you shop at a particular grocery store because it’s visually appealing, even though it is a little more expensive? Have you ever wondered why you can’t seem to sit still for more than a few minutes? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and wondered why this is true of you, maybe it’s time to learn more about learning modalities!
I first learned about learning styles by reading The Way They Learn, an amazing book by Cynthia Tobias. Mrs. Tobias has done the research and written it up in an interesting, and even humorous, style. It’s an easy read, and should be, in my opinion, required reading for student teachers. It will help you to understand and appreciate the ways that different people comprehend and remember information. The three modalities are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Let’s take a look at each one.
Visual Learners
Visual learners need to have a picture of the concept. If you don’t give them one, they will come up with their own in their head. Visual learners listen much more easily if they can see the person is talking. However, if there is something distracting about the speaker, it may be difficult to pay attention. They like bright, flashy colors and usually like anything BUT blue or black ink! These people benefit from flashcards, posters, and books with illustrations.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners need to hear THEMSELVES say the words. Auditory learners talk to anyone who will listen when they need to process information. They need to drill out loud. They get in trouble in class for talking too much. I’m strongly auditory. I found a report card from 2nd grade the other day, and guess what was marked. Yep! “Talks too much in class.” If I have trouble understanding a concept while reading, I will go back and reread it out loud. Then it seems to sink in better. Auditory learners benefit from being allowed to talk through the information, drilling out loud, and having concepts or information set to music.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners need to move. Almost constantly. Of course, they get in trouble for fidgeting. And what are they told? “Sit still! Look at me and listen!” Mrs. Tobias says that when we say this to a kinesthetic child, he (because the vast majority of kinesthetic learners are, indeed, boys) has to concentrate so hard on being still that he doesn’t hear a word we say! These learners need to attach some kind of movement to the learning to make it stick. They benefit from cheers and songs with movements that teach content. They need to change positions or locations often to stay focused, and they benefit from frequent breaks. Surprisingly enough, about 40% of us are kinesthetic learners!
Learning Styles in the Classroom
Now that you have an introduction to learning styles, think about which one is the easiest to teach in the classroom. The visual kids, right? They just need bright bulletin boards and pictures to go with the learning. The auditory kids need to talk about everything, and the kinesthetic kids need to be in constant motion! So how do you help them?
First of all, give your highly auditory kids a toobaloo. These are great little devices that amplify the student’s voice, but sends it straight into their own ear! It’s perfect for that child that is always talking. Another thing you can do is let your auditory kids get together and talk quietly about the learning. When they get the talking out of their system, they can more easily settle down and work.
What about those kinesthetic kids? Well, let them move! In appropriate ways, of course. Let them work at their desks, or at another table, or even under their desks, as long as they don’t distract other kids. I used to let all of my students work wherever they wanted, as long as they didn’t bother anyone else. At first, every single student went to the floor. Within a day, most of them were back at their desks. Who stayed on the floor? The ones that needed to be down there to work best. You can also give kinesthetic kids koosh balls that they can squeeze under their desks without disturbing anyone else. Teach them how to contract their thigh muscles and then let go, repeating it as long as they need to. By flexing this large muscle, their brain can focus on the task at hand.
This is only the tip of the iceberg of learning styles. To learn more about them, I would suggest reading The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias. You can find more information about Mrs. Tobias at www.applest.com.
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