Maths Tutoring 101: Learning Styles

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Every child is unique. Some children prefer art, while some prefer academics. They also have different learning styles, especially during their early years. Focusing on a child's favored learning style is essential in ensuring they do not lose interest in their lessons.

This is especially true with math, which most kids find complicated compared to other subjects. Math tutoring is one concern parents need to address for their kids in the long run. Getting a tutor is a welcome solution, but parents should still be knowledgeable about their children's learning styles.

The Different Learning Styles

Visual learning

If your kids are visual, they take in information best if the details are laid out in photos or visual cues. They prefer to see the details and how the ideas are connected.

Auditory learning

Auditory learners would greatly benefit when they hear the topic being discussed. They may often ask you a question and repeat your answer themselves as a way to remember what you said.

Read and write learning.

Going over books and writing notes is the best way for your kids to learn topics if this is their way of learning in school. They prefer to interact with the text by reading and writing notes about what they read.

Kinesthetic learning

If your kid is a kinesthetic learner, he/she would prefer to learn through experience. These kids desire to find the solutions to math problems, and once they know how it feels to answer a complicated question, they can better understand a complex subject.

Aural Learning

Your kids respond better to rhythm, recordings, or music. When it comes to school, they remember discussions if they elicit an emotional response from them.

Social Learning

During schoolwork, your child processes details given to them by interacting and learning from other kids.

Suggested Tactics for Each Style

For visual learners, tutors can create infographics, charts, and pictures to provide a better learning experience.

For auditory learners, tutors can provide mnemonic devices to help the child remember things better. Your tutor may also record audio clips of discussions your kids can listen to.

For read-and-write learners, a tutor can provide a topic and links to books or websites from which your children can read and take notes.

For kinesthetic learners, exercises and hands-on samples will be the best aids a tutor can use to help your kids learn and understand things better. Math tutoring will help them understand complex problems when they experience solving them on their own.

Ask kids who are aural learners to discuss a particular topic and voice their opinions about it. Look for background music they approve of, and let it play while studying. When solving a math problem, encourage the kid to provide their solutions out loud.

For social learners, ask what they think about a problem and how they can solve it. Make them explain it to you and provide input on what they can improve on. Engage in role-playing whenever necessary.

Last Points to Remember

Studies have shown that teaching based on a child's preferred learning style alone may not help them in the long run. As a backup plan, your child's tutor must adapt to any changes associated with your child's learning style. As your child grows, their learning styles should develop as well.

Author Bio: Paul Sebastian is a blogger and writer. He loves to express his ideas and thoughts through his writings.