What's Your Learning Style?

You might be a visual learner if you:

• React strongly to colors
• Need to write things down to remember them
• Use hand gestures when you talk
• Notice details and are tuned into differences
• Doodle and draw pictures in your notebooks
• Are easily distracted by background noise
• Like to read
• Have good handwriting
• Are a good speller
• Are organized

Study strategies for success at school:

• Color-code your school subjects to stay organized
• Use illustrations, charts, and diagrams to reinforce what you have learned
• Write things down – especially homework assignments and directions
• Use color cues with a highlighter or symbols to remember key information
• Make flashcards for studying math facts, vocabulary, or a foreign language
• Ask your parent or guardian for a quiet space for study at home
• Turn off the TV and music player when it’s time for study
• Turn off social media during homework time to avoid distraction

You might be an auditory learner if you:

• Like to tell stories or jokes
• Talk to yourself while doing a task
• Are very social
• Prefer spoken directions rather than written directions
• Work and study best with other students
• Would rather listen than read
• My papers, folders, and notebooks seem messy

Study strategies for success at school:

• Sit close to the teacher so you can hear him/her clearly
• Read your homework assignments aloud to yourself, or follow the words with your finger
• Recite information aloud when studying facts, vocabulary or math formulae
• Create musical jingles to help you memorize facts, vocabulary, equations, or other information
• Study in groups
• Ask your teacher if you can bring a hand-held tape or digital recorder to class to record the lesson and listen to it again after school
• Read books on tape or audio tapes when possible

You might be a reading and writing learner if you:

• Process information quickly when reading or writing
• Enjoy reading or writing
• Struggle with oral presentations
• Like to make lists or take multiple choice questions
• Re-read material to help you remember

Study strategies for success at school:

• Take notes in class or create outlines in your own words
• Organize your thoughts through writing down what you have learned
• Choose to write essays, research papers, or summaries to help solidify your learning
• Use written statements to describe diagrams or charts
• Re-read or re-write textbook or lecture notes in your own words

You might be a kinesthetic learner if you:

• Enjoy physical activities and are athletic
• Fidget and tap your pencil during class
• Like to try new things
• Like to “dive in” to a project before reading the directions
• Like to work with your hands
• Like to touch things rather than just look at them
• Like to do your homework on your bed or on the floor
• Get bored easily

Study strategies for success at school:

• Take frequent, but short study breaks during homework and study periods
• Change your position when doing homework, or move to a different area
• Dress up your workspace or room with posters
• Draw a picture of what you have learned
• Listen to quiet music while you study or do homework
• Skim through reading material to get a rough idea what it is before reading in detail
• Learn by doing whenever possible