Short answer: Learning styles shape how a student takes in information most comfortably, and a good tutor adapts to them. Visual learners use charts and diagrams, auditory learners listen and discuss, linguistic learners read and write notes, kinesthetic learners learn hands-on, and logical learners work systematically through patterns and cause and effect.
Understanding your child’s learning style can help them get the most out of their education, and it changes what a good tutoring session looks like.
Key points
- Visual learners: Absorb information quickly from text, charts, diagrams and timelines.
- Auditory learners: Recall spoken information easily and learn well through discussion.
- Linguistic learners: Learn best by reading and by taking and rereading detailed notes.
- Kinesthetic learners: Understand topics more deeply through hands-on activities and movement.
- Logical learners: Analyze information systematically and often thrive in math and physics.
- Tutors adapt: A tutor can build activities around the way your child learns best.
What are the different types of learning styles?
| Learning style | Learns best through | Tutoring strategies |
|---|---|---|
| Visual | Reading text, charts, diagrams, timelines | Annotating texts, drawing math and science problems |
| Auditory | Lectures, podcasts, videos, discussion | Repeating ideas aloud, reading out loud, asking and answering questions |
| Linguistic | Reading and writing, detailed notes | Mind maps, note-taking symbols |
| Kinesthetic | Hands-on activities, movement | Counting on fingers, concept maps, index cards |
| Logical | Patterns, data, cause and effect | To-do lists, outlines, structured study plans |
How do visual learners learn best?
Visual learners process information most efficiently by using their eyesight. These students absorb knowledge and instructions quickly by reading text.
They can also easily grasp data and complex concepts by looking at charts, diagrams, timelines, PowerPoint presentations, and other visual aids.
If your child is a visual learner, they will likely thrive in classes that include a lot of written information, like an English class that centers on reading stories or an algebra class that uses written problem sets. They may also prefer to see sample projects before starting their assignments.
A tutor can use many strategies to promote visual learning. For example, they can teach your child to annotate texts with highlights, marginal comments, and symbols. They can also help the student draw visual representations of math or science problems to increase their understanding.
“The first thing you should always do is draw the triangle.”
Sean Alexander, founder of Alexander Tutoring
How do auditory learners learn best?
Auditory, or aural, learners prefer to listen to information. These students can effortlessly recall spoken information and often have strong communication and public speaking skills.
An auditory learner can easily understand knowledge conveyed through lectures, podcasts, videos, and other audio formats. They often enjoy discussing course materials with other students through collaborative and small-group activities.
During a tutoring session, an auditory learner can increase their knowledge by:
- hearing information repeated several times verbally,
- reading text out loud, and
- answering and asking questions.
How do linguistic learners learn best?
Linguistic, or reading and writing, learners gain knowledge best through spoken and written communication. They can easily understand and retain information they read and write down, so taking notes is essential to their learning process.
Linguistic learners prefer to encounter information through written formats like encyclopedias, handouts, notes, and textbooks. They tend to express themselves best in writing and enjoy studying by taking and rereading detailed written notes.
A tutor can teach your linguistic learner many techniques to help them excel. For instance, your child can create mind maps to help them organize and memorize their notes, and they can use symbols to take notes more quickly during a class or tutoring session.
Tutor tip: Whatever your child’s style, have them explain a solved problem back to you in their own words, out loud or on paper. If they can’t explain a step, that is the step to practice next.
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How do kinesthetic learners learn best?
Kinesthetic, or tactile, learners absorb information most successfully when they participate in hands-on activities. These students thrive in environments that blend learning with physical action.
They can develop a deeper understanding of topics by creating crafts or models with their hands, flipping through flashcards, and producing physical posters.
If your child is a kinesthetic learner, they can increase their focus by moving their body as they study. For example, they can chew gum, quietly tap their foot, or pace back and forth in appropriate settings.
Strategies that tutors can use to promote kinesthetic learning include:
- having students count items on their fingers,
- creating visual aids like concept maps and graphs, and
- writing key terms on index cards.
How do logical learners learn best?
Logical, or mathematical, learners use logic and reason to analyze information, detect patterns, and solve problems. They prefer to learn systematically by examining each part of a chain of events, concept, or topic. These learners typically thrive in math, physics, and science classes.
Mathematical learners can process knowledge most efficiently when they conduct research, evaluate data and numbers, and study cause-and-effect relationships. They have strong organizational and reasoning abilities.
Your child’s tutor can teach them many logical learning strategies, such as:
- creating to-do lists,
- developing outlines for written projects,
- producing a structured study plan, and
- visualizing large quantities of information as charts or timelines.
How do you find a tutor who fits your child’s learning style?
Understanding your child’s learning style can help them get the most out of their education. Students who use studying techniques that complement their strengths can memorize information more proficiently, develop a deeper understanding of course material, and feel greater confidence in their abilities.
Finding a tutor who accommodates your child’s style of learning can also boost their academic performance. The math and physics experts at Alexander Tutoring take the time to evaluate your student’s learning preferences and create customized activities that cater to their strengths.
We can help your child increase their self-knowledge and develop excellent study strategies to aid them throughout their academic and professional careers.
Tutor tip: Most students use more than one style. Mixing approaches, such as drawing a diagram, saying the steps aloud and then writing them down, helps the idea stick from several directions. See our guide to personalized learning for more.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the main types of learning styles?
The five learning styles commonly described are visual, auditory, linguistic (reading and writing), kinesthetic (hands-on) and logical (mathematical). Each describes the way a student most comfortably takes in and remembers information.
How does a tutor help a visual learner with math?
A tutor can help a visual learner draw visual representations of math or science problems, and teach them to annotate texts with highlights, margin comments and symbols. Charts, diagrams and timelines also help visual learners grasp complex concepts.
What study strategies work for kinesthetic learners?
Kinesthetic learners do well with hands-on activities such as building models, flipping through flashcards and making posters. Moving while studying, like pacing or quietly tapping a foot, can also help them focus.
Which learning style is best for math and physics?
Logical, or mathematical, learners typically thrive in math, physics and science classes because they like to analyze patterns and cause-and-effect relationships. Students with other styles can still do very well when lessons are adapted to how they learn.
Why does learning style matter when choosing a tutor?
Students who use study techniques that match their strengths tend to remember more, understand material more deeply and feel more confident. A tutor who adapts to your child’s learning style can build sessions around those strengths.
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