Angela’s child is an auditory learner, and she wanted some tips to help him. Her request made us think about how most students have a dominant learning style. And how we can fashion our homeschooling to help them succeed.

Today, we learn about the four major learning styles, how to work with our kids’ styles, and the importance of preparing them not to grow too dependent on their dominant style.

Okay, let’s define four major learning styles.

Visual Learners learn more through images, diagrams, charts, graphs, and pictures. These students doodle, annotate, and make visual notes to retain information better. Consumable workbooks are better for underlining, margin arrows, and highlighting.

Verbal Learners (sometimes called Reading and Writing) absorb information best when they use words, whether reading or writing them. Written words are more helpful than images or spoken words. They’re best at writing essays, articles, and books.

Auditory Learners absorb information better when lessons are spoken and might not need notes. They ask questions often or repeat what they have just heard aloud to remember it better. They benefit from reading out loud but can get distracted by the noise around them.

Kinesthetic Learners prefer to learn through movement, by doing. They can’t sit still for long and need more frequent breaks than others. They benefit from activities that reinforce the information just covered in class.

Why We Need a Multisensory Approach

Your child’s future professor or boss will not care what type of learner they are. Your kid will not be assigned an essay or a work report and asked to substitute an oral presentation or a diorama. Get them ready: use as many sensory approaches as possible for the best learning.

And always remember that repetition is the key to learning.

Thanks to Angela for sending us this idea!

Send us a message and tell us what you want to hear about.

Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services

Kimberly asked Ginny and Mary Ellen how to juggle homeschooling when you have a huge family. You'll love every minute of their humorous reflections and insightful advice.

You may have a married kid or two with grandchildren dropping by while you're planning weddings and still homeschooling high school, middle school, and elementary school. Oh, and you're trying to keep the house clean enough so the Board of Health doesn't put your kids into foster care. Don't miss it.

Show Notes:

Let's talk about how moms of big homeschooling families can stay sane.

1. Have a School Schedule

Start schooling at the same time every day. An earlier start is better. If you have children too young to work independently, start with them.

2. For the Young Ones - Do the Essential Subjects with Them

But EVERY child has something they can do on their own: copy spelling words, finish a math page, etc. Be specific: "Those two pages have to be finished before you eat lunch, so don't dawdle."

3. For Students Who Mostly Work by Themselves - Have a Daily Appointment

Make sure they are staying on track. Set goals. "This chapter has to be read before tomorrow so you can start on the assignment. If you can't finish it during the school day, work on it after supper."

4. Don't worry about unessential subjects

Music in our family was piano lessons, voice lessons, or dance lessons. Anything I did not have to do! They were not cheated; two of my kids pursued fine arts after high school. Art lessons mainly were appreciation – Seton books and the Art Institute of Chicago. You can tour famous museums online, too. PE was town sports – that was enough.

5. Skip unnecessary busy work

If Junior is a good speller, give him a pretest on Monday. If he only gets one or two words wrong, have him write them ten times each and give him another oral test on Tuesday.

If there are twenty English problems identifying proper and common nouns, assign the first ten. If Janie gets them all right, move on to the next subject. Do the same thing with math fact problems. Repetition is the key to learning, but if you have it, you have it!

6. Schedule tidy time.

Having polished floors and sparkling windows can be challenging, but a tidy house makes all the difference to your peace of mind. Assign chores that include washing dishes and cleaning counters. Jackets are hung up, and laundry is folded and put away. Half an hour after school and another after dinner often does the trick if everyone chips in.

7. EVERYONE Chips In

If kids have moved back after college or are attending college while living at home, that's great. But a free ride does not include free maid service. They must take care of their laundry and clean up after themselves; they have to contribute their labor to the household: mowing the lawn, mopping floors, cooking dinner, whatever.

You Won't Regret It:

Young adults living at home should not be a burden – they should be just the opposite – fully contributing household members.

Thanks to Kimberly for sending us this idea.

Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services

We have discussed institutions of higher learning in another podcast, but today, we will discuss graduating high school students who may have had enough of school—at least for now. A son is not sure if he wants to go to college. A daughter thinks she wants to be a dentist, a hairdresser, or a chef but is unsure what these entail. Today, let's talk about how to help those kids.

Show Notes:

Some kids are great students and have plans and professional aspirations. BUT

College is now the default for many families, but should they reconsider?

• Cost is prohibitive.
• Campus life is less than wholesome.
• Is Junior or Sis ready to leave home?
• Do your grad’s aspirations require college?

What should they do? Some possibilities

Get a Job - You cannot go wrong with taking a year off to think about your future and earn some money.

· Build "employment skills." Show up on time, Learn to take orders from a superior, navigate a workplace, and stay off your phone.

· Test Drive a job in a field your student is considering: Front desk at a hair salon or dental office, carpenter's helper, restaurant host.

· Learn Money Skills - Build a bank account, buy and insure a car.

Go into the Military

• Great benefits - Job training and after discharge: Free education - Low-cost mortgages
• Learn teamwork - Hard work - Physical fitness - Discipline
• Travel on the government's dime.

Take Time to Build a Spiritual Life

Frequent Mass and Confession - Get regular spiritual direction - Go on retreat

Volunteer in your Community

Church: altar server, lector, choir, teach CCD – Scouts – Help an elderly neighbor

Homeschooling Resources

Seton Home Study School

Seton Testing Services