How To Improve Study Skills Using Learning Styles

By Alan Scalone on March 24, 2011  

The most important thing is to remember that all children are very different and each child will have their own individual learning style. Determining your child’s educational learning style is the first step to improve study skills and grades.

Keep in mind that there are no “right or wrong” or “better or worse” learning styles.  Some children will learn best with one learning style and some children will need a mix of all styles.  There are four distinct educational learning styles:

Learning Style #1- The Visual/Verbal- You learn best when information is presented visually and in a written language format

Learning Style #2- The Visual/Nonverbal- You learn best when information is presented visually and in a picture or design format.

Learning Style #3- The Tactile/Kinesthetic- You learn best when physically engaged in a "hands on" activity.
Learning Style #4- The Auditory/Verbal- You learn best when information is presented auditory in an oral language format.

Finding an education or study programs that incorporates all 4 learning styles can help improve your child’s study skill and get you child excited about learning.
Once such program, ClickN READ Phonics by ClickN KIDS is an online cartoon animated phonics based reading program. The program is designed with a classroom setting so that the child interacts directly with the on-screen carton teacher, just as a child would in a real classroom.
The cartoon teacher is dog named ClickN KID who fly’s onto the computer screen on his hovercraft with silly antics that keep kids entertained and engaged as they learn. The program teaches the entire phonics curriculum that is taught from K-3rd grade is US schools. It also requires that the child be hands on using the keyboard and mouse to answer questions in each of the 100 lessons.  ClickN KIDS also has a spelling program called ClickN SPELL with the same format.
Another important factor in improving your child’s study skill is developing a routine. Rituals provide security and help to define your child’s identity. “My Dad picks me up after nap.” “Our family eats dinner together.”
As adults, we also have rituals that make us feel comfortable, at ease, and in control of our lives. Coffee in the morning, Sunday conversations with a parent, weekly bike rides. Just as you like to know where you are and where you are headed, children need that same sense of awareness to feel comfortable in their surroundings.
Routines also help to foster important character skills like discipline and focus. So, it only makes sense that you develop a study routine that puts—and keeps—your child in a studious state of mind.

1. Start with a break/ light snack. Consider that your child hasn’t eaten since approximately 12 or earlier. Help them decompress by talking and snacking with you.  Ask their opinion and really listen to their responses. You can learn a lot about your child’s character in these tiny moments.
2. Review the agenda TOGETHER. These days, schools make sure that each student has a way of organizing their assignments, however it’s not always required. YOU should require organization and sign off upon completion.
3. Set goals before beginning. Show your child how to set priorities based on deadlines and difficulty. Depending on what you want to foster and the personality you may be dealing with, decide if easy tasks should be completed before the tedious ones. Sometimes its better to let them do the fun tasks first, but not every time. Give him/her something to look forward to.
4. Schedule a break. If you have a student that can’t seem to focus, give them a light at the end of the tunnel. “After you finish Math, and three Spelling sentences, you may stop and have a drink.” Don’t make rewards too huge or time consuming. The idea is to complete assignments.
5. STUDY. After the homework is done, show your child how to study a little each day.  If the teacher taught Chapter 2 on Monday, review bits of chapter 2 each day, on top of regular homework. Don’t let this routine become monotonous. Make flashcards, write a song, play a game, watch a relevant video. DO show them that studying and homework are NOT synonymous.

Kids settle into routine—or the lack thereof—very easily. The sooner you maintain a schedule and a set way of doing things, the better everyone’s time will be spent and you will start to see improvement in your child’s study skills.
Alan Scalone began his professional career in 1979 developing software systems and later became a Senior Systems Engineer for Honeywell's elite global post sales technical support group.
He spent several years designing and developing Motorola's worldwide Intranet communications software systems and is one of the original ClickN KIDS founders and software engineer of the highly successful ClickN READ Phonics and ClickN SPELL programs. 

Visit ClickN KIDS Website