By Lauri Robins,
Founder of Bright Kids World
Introduction
Is your child a model student? Does s/he pay attention and remember their homework? Does s/he show their work in an orderly manner, manage time well, and listen to directions easily? Yes? These are admirable qualities, and your child is likely to be an Auditory-Sequential Learner (ASL), and is likely to be very successful in school. If your child is gifted, it is highly likely that they will be identified and treated as such in a school environment.
As discussed in the article,
"Learning Styles of Gifted Children", people with a left-hemisphere brain dominance have a learning style called Auditory-Sequential. In this article, we discuss the ASL learning characteristics in more detail and provide suggestions. The following learning characteristics are common with an Auditory-Sequential Learner (ASL):
Characteristics of the Auditory-Sequential Learner
| Thinks primarily in words |
Can show steps of work easily |
| Has auditory strengths |
Excels at rote memorization |
| Relates well to time |
Has good auditory short-term memory |
| Is a step-by-step learner |
May need some repetition to reinforce learning |
| Learns by trial and error |
Learns well from instructions |
| Progresses sequentially from easy to difficult material |
Learns in spite of emotional reactions |
| Is an analytical thinker |
Is comfortable with one right answer |
| Attends well to details |
Develops fairly evenly |
| Follows oral directions well |
Usually maintains high grades |
| Does well at arithmetic |
Enjoys algebra and chemistry |
| Learns phonics easily |
Masters other languages in classes |
| Can sound out spelling words |
Is academically talented |
| Can write quickly and neatly |
Is an early bloomer |
| Is well organized |
|
Copyright held by Linda Kreger Silverman. From Silverman, L.K., (2002) Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual-Spatial Learner, Denver, DeLeon Publishing.
These characteristics can be organized into four areas, which will be explored in greater depth: Verbal & Auditory Strengths, Sequencing Strengths, Analysis & Problem-Solving Strengths, and Time Awareness Strengths.
We need to encourage kids to independently pursue their interests. With that in mind, teaching them tools that they can use will help them to be more academically independent. We provide a list of tools that are consistent with ASL strengths that can help ASL kids pursue their interests.
We close with suggested visual spatial activities that can help minimize areas of potential weakness.
Build on Verbal & Auditory Strengths
|
Verbal Strengths |
Auditory Strengths |
| Thinks Primarily in Words |
Has Auditory Strengths |
| Can Sound Out Spelling Words |
Follows Oral Directions Well |
| Can Write Quickly and Neatly |
Learns Phonics Easily |
ASL kids think in words. They have strong verbal skills. ASL kids access words and vocabulary easily and are likely to excel at public speaking. They combine their excellent short term memory and verbal skills to excel in learning spelling words and vocabulary, and are likely to quickly respond verbally on their feet. They may enjoy debate and forensics clubs in middle and high school. Their command over words allow them to easily build strong writing skills. Learning to write organized paragraphs and essays is natural.
ASLs have strong auditory ability, and can take in abundant information while they listen to lectures. They follow oral instructions well. ASLs are musical, and love rhythms and lyrics. Phonics combines verbal and auditory skills to learn to read words and is an excellent learning method for Auditory-Sequential Learners.
- Talk to ASL kids using interesting vocabulary and words.
- Read aloud to ASL kids.
- Make projects an individual effort, ASL kids work best alone.
- Use phonics to learn to read. ASL kids understand individual symbols (letters) well, and slowly put letters together when they learn to read. Phonics is usually a very effective way for ASL kids to learn to read.
- Ask them to do writing assignments. With their strong vocabulary and organization abilities, they generally write well and consistently build and improve their writing skills, step-by-step.
- Write a poem or an essay.
- Write an editorial essay. ASL kids will enjoy organizing their opinions into an essay.
- Keep a journal on activities associated with a topic of interest.
- Keep the room quiet. Since they hear so well, noises and conversations can be very distracting.
- Create a pamphlet of information. This helps them combine their strong organizational and writing skills in an interesting way.
- Create word puzzles for classmates, which combines their strong vocabulary and logic skills.
- Use word problems in math, combining two strong capabilities in language and math.
Build on Sequencing Strengths
|
Sequencing Strengths |
How Sequencing Helps Learning |
| Is a Step-By-Step Learner |
Does Well at Arithmetic |
| Learns by Trial and Error |
Enjoys Algebra and Chemistry |
|
Progresses Sequentially from Easy to Difficult |
Masters Other Languages in Classes |
| May Need Some Repetition to Reinforce Learning |
|
ASL kids learn sequential tasks in an orderly fashion. Basic skills are learned, progress is made as more complexity is added, and added again. Mastering a skill occurs step-by-step, with practice and repetition. Skills are built by starting with easy materials and progressing to more complex ideas, step-by-step. ASL kids learn by trial and error. When they were learning to walk they were likely to try a step, then fall, then try and try again until they perfect their walking skill. When they play games, they will like to play a round first that doesn't count so they can see how the game works, and then play "for real". Going from simple to complex in a step-by-step organized structure is a natural and comfortable fit. Repetition will help them build skills, as they continuously perfect the details underlying the skill.
The ability to learn in sequence is a natural fit with classroom learning. The 3 “R’s” – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic are all sequential in nature. Arithmetic and mathematical calculation skills are progressively learned step-by-step, in sequence, from simple to complex. ASLs are more comfortable with repetition as they work out details in learning. ASL kids learn symbols easily. Therefore, learning mathematical formulas is natural, and strong memory allows ASL kids to excel in math. Algebra and chemistry are typically learned sequentially, and use logical problem solving skills and symbols. Foreign languages are best learned in a classroom environment, which is typically taught by teaching vocabulary and by teaching sequentially as sentences are put together and slowly built up in complexity.
ASLs learn best when an overall learning goal is broken up into smaller organized pieces. With ASLs, an effective teaching approach is to start with simpler concepts and gradually add complexity.
- Predict what will happen next in a story or play (predict the next step).
- Predict what will happen in several current-event stories (analyze and organize the facts, and predict the next step).
- Love those lists! Have kids list the steps in a science experiment, in a classroom activity, in homework assignments, and so on. List quizzes, list books they would like to read, list spelling words, vocabulary words, and more!
- Use outlines, taking advantage of strong organizational skills and the steps needed to understand a book they have read, or a writing assignment they need to compose.
- Find examples where history repeats itself. Are the steps the same?
- Follow a food recipe and make something good that kids like to eat.
- Learn patterns of ten different dance steps.
- Study a past scientific experiment that led to discovery, and learn what the patterns and steps were that made the experiment a success.
- Encourage kids to have a test run of new things first, and then try it “for real”. ASL kids learn well with repetitive test runs. This is generally how they learn to walk, how they learn to eat food, and so on.
- Create and conduct an experiment. Work out the steps.
- Write a computer program or modify an existing one. Programming is the ultimate step-by-step processing.
Build on Analysis & Problem-Solving Strengths
|
Excellent Student |
Learns Methodically |
| Is Well Organized |
Excels at Rote Memorization |
| Is Academically Talented |
Has Good Auditory Short-Term Memory |
| Is an Early Bloomer |
Learns in Spite of Emotional Reactions |
| Usually Maintains High Grades |
Is Comfortable with One Right Answer |
| Develops Fairly Evenly |
|
Gifted ASL kids are excellent students, and typically demonstrate their academic prowess early in life. They are more likely to develop consistently and evenly, and are likely to maintain high grades in all areas of school.
Gifted ASL kids are analytical and figure things out. They organize information, and think in a logical straightforward manner. Emotions have less impact on their learning style, they generally prefer to think through problems rather than use intuition. When ASL kids learn a process and come up with an answer, they are comfortable with the answer. With true-false or multiple choice tests, they are comfortable that there is only one answer.
ASL kids like to analyze problems. Analysis can include skills such as comparing and contrasting. ASLs will naturally work through the details to come up with conclusions.
- List and organize facts.
- Categorize information and facts.
- Compare and contrast using graphs.
- Create a Venn diagram where things can be grouped by characteristics.
- Develop a fact file.
- Solve problems that require deductive reasoning skills.
- Compare and contrast different periods of history.
- Choose a key historical decision, and ask factual, process, and higher-order questions to better understand the process resulting in the decision.
- Talk about problems that need to be solved, and work through the problem orally and by making lists.
- Provide logic workbooks and games. They will be especially good at logic word problems.
- Rank order key socio-economic factors that shaped a culture’s development.
- Learn how to use a calculator to solve problems, and not just do calculations. This can require thinking through what multiple steps are required, and learning to appropriately put together those combinations of calculations.
- Create number sequences and have a partner find the patterns.
- Find 5 different ways to classify a collection of leaves.
- Create a goal-setting chart for a study of a topic (what I know, what I want to know, and what I want to learn)
- Use a Venn diagram to analyze characters in a story or play.
- Analyze similarities and differences of literature.
- Use a story grid for creative writing activities.
- Use abstract symbols and formulas in math.
- Solve logic problems, and logic story problems.
- Do a daily brainteaser puzzle.
- Use graphic organizers to organize information and data.
- Decipher codes.
- Develop and present a database.
- Interpret data from your topic area.
- Translate data from a variety of sources.
- Use deductive reasoning skills.
- Develop a game about your topic.
Build on Time Awareness Strengths
|
Time Awareness Strengths |
| Relates Well to Time |
ASLs have an excellent awareness of time. They turn work in on time, arrive on time, and finish activities in a timely manner. They move from one activity to another easily on a set schedule.
- Choose an era, and create a timeline of important historic events.
- Provide a watch and teach ASL kids how to use alarms.
- Make a calendar related to your topic.
Technologies to Introduce to ASL Kids
Teaching kids to use and master appropriate tools is a long process, but will provide a lifetime of reward. For the activities just described, try having kids experiment with software and other tools to accomplish their tasks.
- Calculation tools & equipment (spreadsheets, calculators, online utilities)
- Organization software, tools & equipment (spreadsheets, databases, calendars, files)
- Scientific tools & equipment (probes, measurement tools, microscopes, etc)
- Graphing tools & equipment (graphing calculators, graphing software)
- Presentation tools (PowerPoint)
- Multimedia tools to show results (HyperStudio)
- Problem solving tools (software)
- Computer Aided Design (CAD)
- Strategy, Logic, Critical Thinking software
- Statistics software (spreadsheets, online tools)
- Science & Math software
- Video cameras to tape experiments, demos, data gathering
- Animation software to demonstrate experiments
- Webquests
Minimize Weaknesses By Building Visual Spatial Skills
Although ASL kids have many strengths, they can have trouble visualizing images and 3D objects. They may have difficulty with higher level mathematics and physics, which require stronger visual-spatial skills. They may have trouble understanding forms of humor, reading facial expressions and body language, which are non-verbal skills requiring right hemisphere brain processing. ASL kids will benefit from activities that enhance creative thinking and creative abilities.
- Provide hands-on jigsaw puzzles, spatial and geometric games.
- Have them read a map.
- Encourage them to play sports or games with balls (baseball, soccer, basketball, football, water polo, volleyball, croquet, badminton, etc).
- Build 3D structures.
- Tell jokes using all sorts of humor.
- Encourage them to draw.
- Play visualization games.
- Blast rockets into the air, fly kites, and measure things.
- Encourage activities that help kids visualize how things fit, use, and move around in a space.
- Encourage them to ask to see the “big picture” and why you are doing something.
- Play storytelling games. An adult can start the story, and take turns back & forth with kids.
- Incorporate group projects.
- Provide assignments that are holistic. Encourage kids to think about problems from many views.
- Provide math problems that have many approaches to a solution. Have them list as many different ways to solve the problem as they can.
- Read the article "Visual-Spatial Learners" for more suggestions in developing visual, spatial, and creative abilities in your ASL child.
Conclusions
Although ASL kids have a left-hemisphere dominance that is likely to be a lifetime trait, brains continue to develop over a lifetime based on how it is used. Kids will gravitate to activities where they are strong. Help them to use their strengths and balance with activities that will help minimize weaknesses.
Next, we explore VSL kids, and focus on providing a long list of specific suggestions for the classroom and for home for Visual-Spatial Learners.
Sources
Johnson, Larry, and Annette Lamb, Eduscapes.com website.
Silverman, L.K. (2002). Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual-Spatial Learner. Denver: DeLeon Publishing.
Learning Technology Center, Area III, West Central Illinois K-12 School District website.
Visual-Spatial Resource website, at www.VisualSpatial.org.
Copyright 2010, Lauri Robins
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More Articles on Learning:
- "Learning & Learning Styles" by Lauri Robins
- "Learning Styles of Gifted Children" by Lauri Robins
- "Visual-Spatial Learners" by Lauri Robins
- "A Visual-Spatial Quiz" by Dr. Linda Silverman
- "Gifted Visual-Spatial Learner Indicators" by Lesley Sword
- "I Think in Pictures, You Teach in Words" by Lesley Sword
- "The Visual-Spatial Learner in School" by Betty Maxwell
- "Educational Strategies for Visual-Spatial Learners" by Lesley Sword
- "Reading Readiness for Visual-Spatial Learners" by Dr. Linda Silverman
- "Whole Word Reading Instruction" by Betty Maxwell
- "Reading Techniques for Visual-Spatial Learners" by Betty Maxwell
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