Auditory Learning: Hear's the Thing

Every student's learning style is different. Some students can read a paragraph and automatically understand a scientific concept. Others benefit from drawing a sketch or watching a demonstration. Still others are auditory learners—these students benefit most from hearing and talking about what they're learning.

If your child is an auditory learner, there are many ways in which you can help her excel at her studies. First, take the time to sit with your child as she does her homework. Of course, you're not there to give her the answers—but you're not just there to be a passive observer, either. Show her that you, too, are engaged by what she is learning. If she's solving an algebra problem, ask her to explain the steps aloud. If she's working on an essay, ask her to share her thesis and main ideas with you. Auditory learners benefit greatly from hearing themselves speak. Problems that seem daunting on paper can quickly fade away when an auditory learner "talks through" those issues.

This technique also builds confidence. Essentially, you are asking your child to take on the role of the tutor; when she explains things to you, it is she who is the educator. This can be an empowering, encouraging experience, particularly for students who may struggle to have their voices heard in the classroom.

Auditory learners also benefit from mnemonic devices (catchy ways to remember important facts). When you were in elementary school, you may have learned "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas"—that's a popular mnemonic device for remembering the order of the planets in the Milky Way. There are fun mnemonic devices for the order of operations in math, the order of taxonomy in biology, the colors of a rainbow, the order of words in foreign languages, and many more.

Perhaps most important, don't hesitate to get creative! Work with your auditory learner to make up poems, songs, or raps about the things he is learning in school. There's a reason why millions of people can automatically complete the phrase "In fourteen hundred and ninety-two…". It's brief, it's catchy, and it rhymes. The same holds true for classic school-songs like "Fifty Nifty United States." Teach your auditory learner the songs you know, and encourage him to create his own. He will find it far easier to remember a fun song than a long block of text!

If you're looking for tutoring services to help your auditory learner, consider Dr. Linda Silbert's program, Strong Learning. Dr. Silbert has been tailoring lessons to fit students' individual needs for more than 40 years.

Find the best tutoring solution for your auditory learner.