Every individual has a certain style of learning and acquiring new information.  Evaluating your child will help you gain a broader understanding of which category your child will fall under.  When beginning to homeschool it is helpful to know what type of learning style best suites your child.   Below you will find the different type of learning styles and multiple intelligences.

Learning Styles-is the method of educating particular to an individual that is presumed to allow that individual to learn best. It is commonly believed that most people favor some particular method of interacting with, taking in, and processing stimuli or information.Based on this concept, the idea of individualized "learning styles" originated in the 1970s, and has gained popularity in recent years. It has been proposed that teachers should assess the learning styles of their students and adapt their classroom methods to best fit each student's learning style. [1]


Visual Learners- learn best through visual images; example a persons body language and facial expressions.  They prefer being close to the center of learning.  This learner will benefit more if they are close to the teacher and near the visual aides.  They will represent their learning by reading, writing, and drawing.

Materials- diagrams, overhead projectors, illustrated textbooks, graphs, charts

Auditory Learners-  learn best through listening.  They benefit more from lectures, verbal discussions, and general conversation. Listening is the key to their understanding; they listen to the tone of voice, pitch and speech that is being used. They will be good at following directions from beginning to end in the correct sequence.

Materials- audio books, tapes, lectures, cd's, paltalk , etc..

Tactile-Kinesthetic learners- learn through touch and activity (movement).  A hands on approach is preferred in integrating learning.  You will find that they are very interested in exploring their surroundings.  They will become restless and very distracted if they are made to sit for long periods of time.

Materials- videos, flip charts, hand-outs, interactive material

Multiple Intelligences-  is an educational theory, first developed by psychologist Howard Gardner, that describes an array of different kinds of "intelligences" exhibited by human beings. Gardner suggests that each individual manifests varying levels of these different intelligences, and thus each person has a unique "cognitive profile." The theory was first laid out in Gardner's 1983 book, Frames Of Mind: The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences, and has been further refined in subsequent years.

The theory was proposed in the context of debates about the concept of intelligence, and whether methods which claim to measure intelligence (or aspects thereof) are truly scientific. Gardner's theory argues that intelligence, as it is traditionally defined, does not adequately encompass the wide variety of abilities humans display. In his conception, a child who masters the multiplication table easily is not necessarily more intelligent overall than a child who struggles to do so. The second child may be stronger in another kind of intelligence, and therefore may best learn the given material through a different approach, may excel in a field outside of mathematics, or may even be looking through the multiplication learning process at a fundamentally deeper level that hides a potentially higher mathematical intelligence than in the one who memorizes the concept easily. The theory suggests that, rather than relying on a uniform curriculum, schools should offer "individual-centered education", with curricula tailored to the needs of each child. (This includes working to help students develop the intelligences in which they are weaker.) [2]

Visual/Spatial Intelliegence- These learners think visually.  They envision pictures and create images to help them memorize information. They are very good at memorizing visually (i.e where an object was, directions, etc...).  They may also be artistic due to their nature of visual stimulation. They will like to draw, build, and create things.

Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence - These learners are very articulate.  They  have a highly developed vocabulary and superb auditory skills.  They tend to think in words rather than pictures.  Vocabulary is the key to their comprehension.  They will enjoy word games, riddles and story telling.

Logical/Mathematical Intelligence- This person would learn by using logical/ numerical patterns and deductive reasoning, to make links between key pieces of information.  They are interested in the world around them, like to ask questions and are intrigued by experimentation. They will have a system to problem solving and organizing their thoughts.

Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence- Movement is the foundation of this learner.  These learners will have excellent eye-hand coordination and good balance.  They use the space around them to interact with.  They relate and comprehend through movement. They will like to touch things, run and use body language.

Interpersonal Intelligence- These learners learn from others.  They try to learn from other people's point of view while taking into consideration all of their feelings and motivations; they are able to sense a person's feelings, moods, and emotions.  They are good at organization and use verbal and non verbal communication to communicate with others. They will have many friends, like to talk and volunteer to help when needed.

Intrapersonal Intelligence-  These learners are more involved in learning about themselves.  They try to have a general awareness of their feelings, dreams, strengths, and weaknesses.  They will like to be alone and are very insightful.

Naturalist-  These learners will be more in tune with nature (i.e different types of species and their relationships).  They will take a general interest towards nurturing animals or plants.  They will enjoy zoos, aquariums, and places where the natural world can be studied.

[2] Taken from wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences )