The other day when I was getting my hair done, I overheard a couple of women lamenting on how their boys really do not like school. They went on to say that “school just isn’t their thing” and that the boys were both very talented when it came to more hands-on or mechanical things.
The best part of the conversation for me was in hearing about the boy’s strengths. The mother’s also said that they knew these boys would be fine in life if they could just “get through” school. Unfortunately, 13 years is a lot to just get through!
Recent research shows us that one-third of the population thinks the same way that these boys do. These boys are what we call visual-spatial learners. Visual-spatial learners are individuals who think in pictures rather than in words. They have a different brain organization than auditory-sequential or traditional learner does. In fact, recent research has shown that only 23% of students are auditory-sequential.
In discussing learning styles, many people often refer to being “left brained” or “right brained.” While people do use both sides of their brains when processing information, many people tend to use one side to a greater extent than the other. Visual-spatial learners tend to utilize their right side more than their left, while the more “traditional” student utilizes the left side more.
As teachers and parents, it is very important that we educate ourselves on methods that work best with visual-spatial learners. These students often have extremely high IQ scores on visual-spatial tasks and these need to be valued. Below are some tips to use when teaching a visual-spatial learner:
1.The Big Picture: These students will tend to look at the big picture rather than the details. Oftentimes, in a culture that values left-brain thinking, a student will be asked to outline a project or paper before completing the body. To maximize a project, a right-brain thinker should bend directions and start on the body of the project first. Afterwards, an outline can be made to make sure that the project makes sense. This approach makes much more sense to the visual-spatial learner.
2. Note-taking: Lecturing is a popular style of teaching; unfortunately, it is a handicap for visual-spatial thinkers. To help a child grasp the lecture more deeply, I recommend that the student asks the teacher to give the “big picture” first so that he/she can form a picture in his/her mind ahead of time. Another idea would be to get the notes printed in the form of a study guide ahead of time and have the student color-code the notes that he takes during lecture, or draw pictures next to ideas. This will help the student to remember concepts more deeply because an opportunity was made to associate specific thoughts with specific colors or images.
3. Getting Organized: According to Dr. Carolyn Hopper, right brain learners--to exercise the right hemisphere’s creative tendencies-- often try to change the environment in which they operate. Because of this, they can have trouble following rules or adhering to schedules, and may find themselves bouncing from one task to another. A suggestion would be for these students to ask teachers or peers to explain instructions so that the meaning is confirmed. Creating checklists is another suggestion. And finally, having a scheduled “organization time” could help a student to feel less stressed or anxious.
4. Breaking it Down: Right-brain learners can get overwhelmed rather quickly when there are a series of tasks that need to be accomplished—whether it be an assignment at school, or a chore around the house. Breaking things down into easily accomplished steps can keep your child’s anxiety at bay. Remember, if your child shows signs of frustration, back up a bit as you are probably going to fast. Have patience and work with your child at his/her level.
5. Google Information: In the last few years there has been more research done on visual-spatial learners than ever before. I highly encourage teachers and parents to gather as many helpful hints as possible to help them work with these magnificent students!
