Learning styles

All children are different. Human beings go about things in their individual way and this makes them unique. Therefore the learning styles differ per person as well. The road children take to acquire knowledge is intrinsic to their personality.  Now let’s see if you can recognize your child’s (and your own) learning style:

Beavers

Beavers love to go about their work in a methodological way. They are consistent, like lists, adhere to the timeframe, do as you ask and feel comfortable within a framework.

They are challenged when they are required to come up with innovative ideas, creative concepts and open-ended questions. It irritates them when others frolic around and do not seem to be responsible for a solid outcome.

Dolphins

Dolphins are very much in tune with the emotional life of others, they like to assist, help where they can and often have a very positive influence on a group. Their work is colourful, unique and well cared for.

Due to their eye for detail, adhering to a time frame can be a challenge. They love brainteasers but dislike memorization and tedious study that needs drilling. Those boring questions do not deserve their energy.

Owls

Give them knowledge! They are deeply interested in the functioning of the earth, mechanics, and the sciences in general. Knowing why and how phenomena take place absorbs their thinking. A deep, individual concentration assists their hunger for facts.

Needing to be a team member or even a leader can be a source of great stress. They like to be left alone and are often not aware of the needs of others. Social interaction seems a waste of time, keeping him/her away from the more important things in life.

Fox

The fox is quick. They are multi task people, who know what others are going to say. They are keen and witty and understand concepts very fast. Give the fox a problem and solutions are found very fast.

Give the fox a book or series of calculations to work through and you will have a minimal response. They need to be able to wander on new roads, tease their mind and be innovative. Otherwise they will switch off and classify the surrounding as boring and uninteresting.
 
Respect for who you are!
In the Montessori classroom we help children grow up harmoniously. What does that mean? The teachers acknowledge the individual learning styles and help each child develop the skills of the other groups consciously. Why would one want to do that?
Self-esteem is boosted when the child feels respect for who they are and how they function. Their success in life is optimalised by developing the techniques necessary to be able to work and communicate with those who are different. Being able to adapt to various situations instead of feeling threatened, allows the personality to unfold and function according to their potential!

The terminology used in this chapter is based on the study of Howard Gardner’s Multiple Inteligences.