Math, in its nature is abstract. This can be intimidating for visual learners studying the subject. Visual learners, who take their cues from pictures, colors, and shapes, oftentimes struggle with the non-visual learning methodology of math. If your child is a visual learner, what's the best way to ensure they pick up math at a rate that keeps them on track with their peers?
Types of Learners
Every child learns differently, and it's important for you as their parent to understand how your child best digests information in order to teach them effectively. Is your child a visual, auditory, r or kinesthetic learner? What does it mean for your child to have a particular learning preference? Here's a look at what these learning styles mean for your children:
- Visual learner: Your child learns by seeing and visualizing new information. Charts, graphs, and illustrations are perfect for your child.
- Auditory learner: Your child learns by hearing information told or spoken to them. Videos, oral presentations, and audio guides will help your child learn.
- Kinesthetic learner: Your child learns by doing. Lab work, mathematic manipulates, and hands-on projects help your child with learning course material.
Is My Child a Visual Learner?
There are many key signs to watch out for to find out what learning style preferences they have, but depending on age, your child might know the answer themselves. Ask them, and work with them to understand how best they learn.
For example, if you're looking to identify your child's learning type, it's important to observe what course materials they're most drawn to. Map-, chart-, and picture-lovers are strong contenders for visual learning. Additionally, children who retain information easily when reading may also be visual learners.
What Tools Can Help a Visual Learner Understand Math?
Learning math can be a challenge for visual learners if information is not presented visually. Although many teachers take pains to present information by multiple means, sometimes visual learning gets left behind in lieu of numbers and formulas. If that's the case, how can you help your child understand math? There are a few tricks to try.
For starters, visually inclined children can be taught how to manage new math materials by illustrating their work. A lot of struggle in math, especially word problems, can be solved by drawing a picture. This is also helpful in multiplication, division, and fractions. When your child sees a problem explained visually, they can easily conceptualize it.
Color-coded highlighters and markers can also be of strong benefit for visual learners, enabling them to easily isolate the different elements of a problem based on color. Children can also use an abacus for math—the colored, moving beads of the abacus are great for visual and kinesthetic learners. These learners benefit highly from the use of an abacus in their developmental math education. In fact, manipulates of any type are incredibly valuable for visual learners.
Ultimately, there are a number of ways to overcome the difficulties of studying math as a visual learner. Teach your child how prepare for advanced math by turning to Genie Academy. We are focused on teaching your child skills and methods that fit their individualized learning style.
Sourced through
https://www.time4learning.com/teaching_math_to_visual_learner.shtml#techniques
https://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/
