All children learn in different ways. Some are more visual or auditory type learners while others tend to be more kinesthetic and use their entire body to learn.
So, how do we teach to different learners? We use what is called Multisensory instruction. Multisensory instruction means that the kids have to see it (visual), hear it (auditory), touch it (tactile), and do it (kinesthetic). Using all of the child’s senses when teaching, activates the different parts of the brain. This helps the information that they are learning “stick.”
In today’s post, I am going to focus on the Auditory Learner and give you activities and strategies to teach your child with this learning style.
“Who is the Auditory Learner?”
This is the child who can’t stop talking! These kids have a very difficult time reading silently and are often observed talking or moving their lips when writing things down. They also hum or talk to themselves a lot.
If you have observed that your child learns better through audiobooks, songs, stories, and discussion than through visual text of information, chances are he or she is an auditory learner. Auditory learners learn best by listening and talking.
“How do You Teach an Auditory Learner?”
1. Sing Songs
Auditory learners tend to enjoy music and find that it really helps them remember things, especially if they are listening and singing along to the lyrics.
You can sing letter songs, sing out a word that is difficult to spell, or make up a silly song to help your child understand a teaching lesson.
You can use songs for phonics, history, science, or anything!
2. Listen to Audiobooks
Listening to audiobooks is such a fantastic tool for your auditory learner.
Audiobooks are engaging and fun and are the best way for your auditory learner to access and comprehend information.
If you are one of those teachers or parents who spend hours each day reading aloud to your kids, you will be so relieved when you start using audiobooks and give yourself a much-needed break.
The library is my favorite place to find a great selection of free audiobooks.
3. Teach to Others
After your child is taught a lesson or skill, you can then have them turn around and teach what they learned to someone else. This could be another adult, child, or even a stuffed animal!
When my daughter was young and learning to read, she would spend hours reading aloud to her stuffed animals.
They were all piled at the end of her bed and she would play teacher by reading to them and asking them questions.
She was practicing what she had learned from me and was excited to show her animals her newly learned skills.
4. Story Telling
After reading a passage together – have your child retell the story or text in their own words.
You can use a graphic organizer like the one here, for example, and have your child tell you what happened at the beginning of the story, in the middle, and at the end.
Retelling a story builds comprehension skills. The storyteller has to remember what happened and create a summary and sequence of events.
Building the skill of storytelling with children at a young age can help lend to future endeavors when they are adults such as public speaking, socializing with peers, and remembering important details during meetings.
In Summary
Auditory learners learn best when listening and talking. This is how they process almost all information.
Your auditory learner will require more verbal explanations of things to fully comprehend the lessons taught. Auditory learners will need to first hear the information and then follow up with spoken directions.
Using multisensory teaching strategies will benefit the auditory learner the most.
Thank you for reading my post today. You might also enjoy reading:
Please don’t leave without checking out the PRIDE Reading Program. The PRIDE Reading Program is an Orton-Gillingham curriculum that is used by teachers, tutors, and homeschooling parents worldwide with great success.
