By Jena | Leave A Comment
Visual Spatial Learners
Sharpen your pencils! Visual Spatial learners learn best through pictures and illustrations. Visual spatial learners think in pictures. Once they have a picture of the concept, they’ve got it! No need for repetition and drill.
They do not learn sequentially so “traditional” teaching methods and curriculum only lead to frustration and poor academic performance.
Visual Spatial Learners:
- Think in pictures
- Recognize faces, objects, shapes, colors, details,
and scenes - Have a good sense of direction
- Need to understand the big picture before getting
into the details - Do not learn sequentially (step-by-step)
- Learn by seeing and observing
- Use visual images to recall information
- Enjoy doodling, drawing, painting, and sculpting
- Often reverse letters when writing
- Do not learn through repetition and drill
- Discover patterns easily
- Doodle while listening
How To Choose Visual Spatial Homeschool Curriculum.
Choose curriculum that can be read aloud, has manipulatives, or is experimental in nature. Look for resources that focus on the big picture of a subject, patterns, and relationships rather than facts and sequential steps. Avoid workbooks and textbooks (in most cases).
HISTORY
Reading (and read alouds) allow visualization of the stories. Use videos, computer programs, lapbooks, notebooking, and hands-on projects.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Visual spatial learners benefit from visual aids when learning new information and for getting their thoughts on paper. Look for resources that utilize flow charts, concept mapping, graphic organizers, and art.
These learners are brilliant with content yet struggle with the mechanics of writing. Remember, best-selling authors have editors! Avoid curriculum that emphasizes spelling, grammar, and capitalization.
LITERATURE
Reading (and read alouds) allow spatial learners to visualize the stories in their minds.
MATH
Visual/pictorial aids and manipulatives are a necessity in math. Use illustrations and stories to teach facts and processes. Color code steps for solving math problems. Spatial learners excel with concepts but struggle with details and computations.
PHONICS
Visual spatial learners often struggle with learning to read. Use a phonics and whole word approach to reading. Since they think in pictures, connect letter sounds with pictures. Give them plenty of time with this.
SCIENCE
Use flow charts and graphic organizers for visualizing information. Use reading (and read alouds), videos, computer programs, lapbooks, notebooking, and plenty of hands-on experiments.
ABOUT Jena
Jena Names is a homeschooling mother of three and learning styles advocate. Visit her website, Custo{read more}
Loading ...
I am going to homeschool my 13 year old son this year for the first time. He has struggled all the way through school. He is a visual spatial learner. Do you know of any specific cirriculum that caters to the visual spatial learner?
Thanks!
My oldest daughter is a visual spatial learner and I understand struggling! I’ve been homeschooling her for 6 years and I have learned by trial and error what works and what doesn’t.
The curriculum makes ALL the difference. Until I found the right math curriculum my daughter was literally failing math. Once we switched (to Math U See) she went from D’s to A’s. It was amazing! She struggled to learn her multiplication facts for months. I found the Memory Joggers program and she learned them in 3 weeks (and almost a year later still has instant recall).
I could go on and on.
I have a website that groups curriculum by learning style. (Links below)
http://www.custom-homeschool-curriculum.com/visual-spatial-learners.html
http://www.custom-homeschool-curriculum.com/visual-spatial-homeschool-curriculum.html
This isn’t an exhausted list – it’s what I have found so far. There isn’t a lot out there for visual spatial learners – they are too ‘out of the box’ for traditional currculum publishers. I’ve often had to tweak things to make it work. Teaching my daughter has been more time-consuming than my other children BUT it’s worth the time and energy I put into it. She is strong in reading, writing, and math because I took the time to mold my curriculum to her.
Please lt me know if you have more questions or need help in any way. Maybe my experiences can save you some money and frustration!
Thank You!