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Let me wrap up our series on learning styles by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic.


At what age can a child’s learning style be distinguished?

Dr. Golay, the researcher who conceived the learning style model I use, found most kids settled into a consistent learning style around age 9 or 10. However, I’ve found it best to re-evaluate yearly how each of my kids prefers to learn. Here’s how to do that:

First, if your kids are old enough, ask them to evaluate their own learning preferences: Now that my identical twin sons are almost 17, it is amusing to see that the personality traits they expressed at birth are still key characteristics of their make-up today. Mike is a serious, focused and disciplined kid. He fits best into the routine learner’s model. However, as he has matured and been strengthened by God’s grace in areas of weakness, he has become self-confident, independent and outgoing. He’s no longer given to the insecurities frequently indicative of a routine learner. He told me he masters difficult material best by using a variety of resources, i.e. he reads his textbook, watches a video on the material, reads related material from a library book, and then re-reads the textbook. His brother, on the other hand, had originally been the more social twin. Gabe still likes doing things with a bunch of kids, but he has found that can also be a distraction. He and Mike often “study buddy” with friends before a test in science or an advanced placement subject, but they carefully choose who to include in that group.

Second, observe your kid. When is your child most engaged with the material at hand? While in a group? When reading alone? While working on a project? Listening to a teacher or tour guide? Note these preferences and look for materials and methods that allow you to cover information in these ways.


My child just doesn’t fit into one of the models you covered, what does this mean?

Most kids are not going to fit perfectly into one category or the other. These are generalizations, and God has created us each as individuals with unique interests, giftings and calling. The reason why I present learning style theory to Christian parents is to encourage us to consider the uniqueness of each of our kids when planning our home school program.

I always ask parents who ask this question, “What does your child choose to do when he is free to do so?” Does he choose to read a book alone in his room? Head up the street to find some neighbor kids? Get out the Legoes or craft materials? Listen to music? Help you around the house? Consider how these preferences indicate the way your child learns best.


I have a passel of kids, how am I going to cater to each child’s learning style?

Home schooling is always about trade-offs and the gap between the ideal and realities of our lives. Not only do I have four kids to accommodate, but I also have a husband, a budget, and other responsibilities to fit into my home schooling program. Considering each child’s learning style is just one of the many factors that goes into planning our overall program. I strive to accommodate each child’s preferences in at least one area. Now that my teenagers are old enough to take full responsibility for their programs, I allow them to choose their own materials, and context for learning. That’s why my sons have a tutor for math, an online course and several co-op classes that meet weekly. Neither one prefers to do a subject alone at home without outside accountability. They know now that that scenario doesn’t bring out the best in either of them. My daughter Kayte, on the other hand, is very self-directed and prefers to work for long periods of time on projects of her own choosing. She has co-op classes too, but is much more interested in her history, quilting, web design, and writing projects she is completing on her own at home. Kristen needs me to be with her during her school day. She is developing the skills she needs to learn independently, but does not do well unless I am in the room with her. So she does school in the kitchen, where I can also complete household tasks while frequently checking her work.


Where does learning style theory conflict with a Christian worldview?

I made up that question so I can cover my final point. Learning style theory does not take into account the biblical view of the nature of children, i.e. they have a sinful nature. I don’t want folks to mistakenly conclude that I am asking parents to accommodate the sinful tendencies in our kids. The weaknesses of each type of learner are frequently rooted in sin and we need to help strengthen these areas. Use learning style theory to dwell with your children in an understanding way. Gently with grace, systematically and incrementally help the active learner control his impulses, or the routine learner to take risks and root their insecurities in the sufficiency of Christ, or the focused learner to be more aware of the needs of others around him, or the global learner to be less interested in being the center of attention and more interested in pointing others to the glories of God.

In His Sovereign Grace,

Debra