Juan can study while listening to the radio, but Sarah stops working if someone turns the page of a newspaper. Michael needs to write spelling words over and over; Tamika does better by spelling them aloud.

These differences have nothing to do with intelligence. But they do show that kids learn in different ways. By learning how your child learns best, you can go a long way toward helping her achieve success.

Can your child listen to stories for hours? Then she’s probably an auditory learner. She learns best when she can listen. You can help by repeating math facts or spelling words aloud.

Does your child prefer to see things written down? That’s a sign that she’s a visual learner. Help her learn to make charts or pictures. Post spelling words on the mirror or on the refrigerator.

Does your child touch everything in sight? Does she take it apart to see how it works? She’s probably a kinesthetic/tactile learner. She needs hands-on learning. Let her put on a play to show you what she learned about history. Make up a song or rap to learn multiplication facts.

There’s no “best” way to learn. But by understanding your child’s learning style, you can help her learn more and make better use of her study time.

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