Kids Learning Style

Updated on March 06, 2013
M.E. asks from Tampa, FL
18 answers

Do you believe kids have a different learning style? Like public school is not a good fit for every child?

Up until recently, I never questioned the school I sent my kids too. It is an "A" school, it's in a beautiful setting, the principal walks around with a smile, the kids are well behaved, all the other parents love it and says it has a good reputation.

My oldest son did fine there and has moved on to middle school, but my other two don't seem completely happy there. My daughter is not excelling despite the after school tutoring and help from the teacher and volunteers. Maybe it's her. My younger son is the opposite. Doing well but bored and unchallenged.

Have you ever made the choice to remove your child from a school because it wasn't the right fit?

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

I do believe this, as I have some very busy kinesthetic learners in my family. My sister does best learning hands-on, and if there's material to be studied, she finds that she absorbs it much better while moving. She says she did all of her college studying on an exercise bike 'so the information would sink in'.

I have a nephew who does well with moving his body, to, while learning. If you make him sit absolutely still, he has a harder time focusing than being allowed to wiggle. My sister homeschools and has modified lessons to use this to an advantage, such as making geography fun by putting maps on all the walls and having her boys 'run' to find the destinations.

I am not an auditory learner at all. Tell me, and I will forget. Let me read it, I'll very likely remember it. And like Lola suggested, noise matters. I can't focus if it's noisy. Way too distracting for me.

My son is in kindergarten and his teacher is just right for him and his needs. He's happy to be a do-er.:)

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K.P.

answers from Miami on

Yes, absolutely. Granted, it was his preschool program, but he was bored and unhappy. The kids were not managed and they were doing NOTHING. The year prior was wonderful, but the next year was awful and he ended up behind as a result. We pulled him after 4 months and told the Director (respectfully) why we were disenrolling. Apparently we were not the only individuals to do so.

He is thriving in his new setting and is closing the learning gaps very quickly with a new teacher, including his articulation errors. This teacher actually corrects his articulation and reinforces when he says something "right'!

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I can't speak to schools in the US, but in Canadian schools they teach according to the Flemings Model of Learning styles. Every lesson taught needs to be adapted to visual, auditory and kinesthetic (or tactile) learners. Our schools also recognize the Theory of Multiple Intelligences and try to adapt teaching to the different "aptitudes" of students. When students are having difficulties they can recieve an Adapted Learning Plan, Added Enrichment or an Individual Education Plan, depending on the needs of the student. So, here in Canada public school is a fit for every child because public school adapts to the needs of every child.

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M.O.

answers from New York on

I definitely think kids -- and adults -- have distinct learning styles, and that these ultimately feed into the professions people choose.

All that said, I think a good public school (and there still are a few good public schools out there) will teach to multiple learning styles simultaneously -- they'll have phonics and whole language materials simultaneously, for example.

What I hate (one of the many things I hate) about No Child Left Behind is that it makes it much harder for schools to do this. They have to orient their teaching to a very narrow test (which itself doesn't do a good job of measuring what kids know or can do), and that narrows their teaching options down to just about nothing.

In specific answer to your question, when my son was very small, I removed him from one preschool and enrolled him in another b/c the first was too noisy and chaotic for him. I then deliberately enrolled him in a progressive Montessori-ish public charter school (where he is now), but that wasn't specifically about learning styles; it was because our local public school didn't have any options for kids functioning above grade level, and my son was already reading fluently.

If you have any Montessori-oriented options, be they charter schools or private schools, I would recommend looking into that -- the Montessori method is specifically geared toward discovering and celebrating kids' distinct learning styles.

P.S. Sherri G., wow. You've given me yet another reason to wish I were a Canadian!

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L.N.

answers from New York on

i just did, 2 weeks ago. the first school my kids went to grades k-3 (a few months into 3), was a catholic school. difficult, strong academics etc. both my kids excelled. i believe both my kids did well because on top of academics there was strong discipline imposed, so that all kids could concentrate on learning. then we moved in december, i put them in a public school because i heard it was good (new state). one of my third graders did okay, the other one completely slipped. the academics were weak, no discipline, so not only was she not learning much but she was missing what was being taught due to noise. i pulled them out and put them in a new catholic school. lo and behold both are doing great again. so to answer your question, little things like noise level can be distracting to kids.

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V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Hazel, I am the same as you. I cannot follow along listening to someone else read, or just listening to a lecture. I will forget it as soon as the next line is spoken. I need to SEE it. READ it myself. My son, on the other hand, does not do best reading the content, he does better hearing it. And of course, DOING something (standing up, jumping in the air or doing a yo-yo to demonstrate kinetic energy, for example).

Of course, I firmly believe that not all schools are a good fit for every student. Neither are all teachers. I have not ever removed my kids from a classroom/school because of these reasons, but I do follow and understand that what works for "most" doesn't work best for "all". The problem is for the kids who don't do well learning by sitting and reading. Those are the kids that today's classrooms are geared towards. Finding a place where they teach using different primary strengths is going to be a challenge.
Good luck.

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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

My neices are at two different schools for this very reason. One is at out neighborhood school because the school is more focus on auditory and visual learning and that's how she learns best, and she is thriving. My other niece is at a private school where the whole philosophy is based around the kinesthtic learner, which she is, and she is thriving there. Neither girl would make it at the other school. They would fail.

I don't think all schools, public or private, meet the needs of all students, but I'm not sure they can. All schools need to do better in reaching all learning styles. I think schools have improved some since I left the public school system though.

I am very much a hands on learner with some learning disabilities, and it amazes me that I graduated high school. All the classes were auditory based and I do not learn that way. The only thing that saved me where the occaisonal projects that were multi faceted, and the classes like band and wood shop.

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M.H.

answers from Chicago on

I think it is the teachers and thier ability to read a child and perform "miracles". If they are a very well trained competent teacher amazing things will happen. If they can not adapt, it can be a bad mix. You are your childs voice.. do what you feel is best.

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A.H.

answers from Sarasota on

I know for me when I was in school because I learn different then most it was really tough because everything is pretty much straight and narrow but if you know what is going on with your child say she has a learning disability and no one wants to hear those words I didn't but honestly you can really work with the school to get them to accommodate with them. You have to really be a voice for them or for me I really had to make sure they were working with me and doing what they would say they would do. I had extra time on tests if I wanted and I could go to a smaller room I had a teacher there that could rephrase the questions in a different way so I could understand it because lets face it some times things are just so wordy. I was in all normal classes no ESE stuff. Whenever a test would come around for a class they would give it to me and I'd go into another room take my time and get it done and that worked great for me. I'm more of a hands on learner I can't just read something and get it like some teachers would do and it takes me time to really get things when it came to math I'd practice a lot and really work with my teacher so I could understand it. So maybe it is just something simple as just needing some extra help and time maybe it is to much at once to really get. Which a lot of teachers would do that give you a bunch of notes and you pretty much had to teach your self an then there was a test. So I'd ask her if its how the teacher is teaching ask her what she thinks the issues is she will know better then anyone else. But my parents never took me out of school but we did switch schools at one point because they wouldn't do what they said they would and because of that I couldn't pass the state tests because I wasn't learning anything and they weren't trying to help figure out why. Sorry I wrote so much and I hope it was some what helpful. Best thing is to ask her it could just be the teacher and that can be changed or like a said maybe extra time and some extra help

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

I definitely think so. My kids are still in pre-school, but the thing I like about the elementary school they will be attending is that they do more small group table activities instead of individual desk-oriented. If you want to sit on the floor to read or lay on the floor to write, that's fine....at least they do that at the younger years. I haven't toured the upper grades.

It was suggested to my sister that her daughter would do better at my neighborhood school instead of the one in her neighborhood because of the flexibility and small group activities. Since it's different school districts, she may not get in, but she is going to try. If it doesn't work out, she will probably do private school.

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J.P.

answers from Tampa on

Maybe the teacher isn't the right fit for your kids and not the school itself. If you can find an A school with well behaved kids and a happy principal then hold onto it. Around here, that is a rare find. Maybe you can discuss the issues with the teachers and if things don't improve bring the issues to the principal and maybe a different teacher is needed.

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Yes kids have different ways of learning. Sounds like you may need to talk to the school. If you havn't already. Here we have programs for kids that struggle and some of them have special teachers. And for your board one we have gifted programs you might want to check into that. If your school does not have what you need yes I for sure would look for one that has what your children need!!! Do what you feel is best. My oldest is gifted and needed teachers to challage him. My youngest struggles. Their school has figured out what they need to help them learn to their best potential. I know not all schools out there are like that. But if you can search till you find what you need!!!!!!! I have a friend that because of her childrens learning differences decided to home school. Unfortunatly that's not always an option. I would with my youngest if I could but we can't aford for me to not work. Good luck!

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C.W.

answers from Washington DC on

After this year with my son, I do believe that not all places are the right fit. But..I really think it also has to do a lot with the teachers. My son is very young, summer birthday, but in the state we lived in last year, they believed that you started kids if they met the age deadline. So we put him in K and he had a terrific teacher that was able to channel his silliness and he had a wonderful year. He has always done better with less structured play based learning. We moved, and the new school was supposed to be excellent. Well a neighbor warned me that summer birthday boys are not accepted well by the teachers in this school. This teacher is old school and has had it out for all of the young boys in her class. Turns out that they hold 5-10 young boys back every year in first grade in this school. There is an hour and a half of free time each day which my son cannot handle. We have had him tested and he has reading issues not related to his age, but his teacher refuses to acknowledge the results claiming it is all due to his young age. We do not have a montessori school near us, or I would jump at it.

My daughter, by contrast does fine with the structure as long as she gets some attention from the teacher.

I really do think that this year could have been different with a vibrant teacher that wants the kids to succeed no matter what.

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K.F.

answers from New York on

Yes. My son's first grade experience was terrible both for him and for me but I was not able to make a change for him until the end of he school year. It was aweful. We still talk about it and he's in college now.

Find a school that is a great fit for your kids no matter what you need to do. Otherwise your kids are just trapped and that changes who they are and who they could become. It isn't all bad, builds character but what kind of character and at what expense?

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R.A.

answers from Boca Raton on

Yes, I do. I homeschool my daughter and it works very well. This way proper attention is paid. We can focus more time if she needs and less time if she doesn't.
We are expecting others to be responsible for our child's eduction. Scary....

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

We aren't even trying schools because I know they aren't a good fit! I have serious philosophical issues with schooling in America, so we are avoiding schools at all costs.

My background is in educational policy, with a focus on philosophy of education. I use to teach education majors at a big ten university. I wouldn't trust 90percent of those top tier students to educate my children.

Updated

We aren't even trying schools because I know they aren't a good fit! I have serious philosophical issues with schooling in America, so we are avoiding schools at all costs.

My background is in educational policy, with a focus on philosophy of education. I use to teach education majors at a big ten university. I wouldn't trust 90percent of those top tier students to educate my children.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Public school or private school, does not make a difference.
Meaning, it is the Teacher and her/his way of teaching and making learning enjoyable or not. And in light of what they are required to teach, per their curriculum and school philosophy.
Even if there were a school that had a "perfect" school philosophy and campus... that does not mean ALL children will like learning or do well at learning.
And, each child is different.
BUT, not all school systems can customize their curriculum and Teachers to fit that ONE child amongst their entire student population on campus.

And ultimately, it is up to the parents, to be proactive. To have communication with the Teacher and ask questions and see, how their child is doing and... why, or why not.

Even if a child were going to the #1 top most prestigious school in the world... that does not mean that ALL children, will do well there or learn well there or be happy there or be perfect learners there and turn out to be Einstein caliber.

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J.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Every child is different. My daughter went to kindergarden where my neighbor went years earlier. A lot had changed since he moved on to middle school. I had to change teachers and then we moved on to another school after the school year ended. We lived in Tampa for eight years, moving to Jacksonville in August. No matter where I am, I advocate for my girls. If it's not working, don't drive yourself nuts trying to make it work, you know your children and what they need. Please don't be afraid to move to another school. Good luck with your decision, I know it's tough.

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