Homeschooling with Style

If you are a parent with more than one child you are already fully aware that no two children learn in the same way. If you are raising an only child, you might need more convincing. In the last thirty years, an impressive number of studies have been initiated to explain the differences in the way people think and feel as they create, solve problems, and interact with one another. One way of explaining why this is true is called "learning style theory."

Learning styles can be broken into numerous types of categories, but one of the most common categorizations is the VAT Model: visual learners, auditory learners, and tactile/kinesthetic learners. Each of these types of learners processes information differently, and although most people can learn with either of these modalities, they usually have a preferred mode that aids them in mastering material more quickly and retaining it longer.

One benefit of homeschooling with technology is that it often incorporates all three styles in one platform. Educational software, online distance education and multimedia curriculum can meet the needs of diverse students within a community and even within a single family. Another benefit is that children grasp technology quickly, and often are more motivated to learn when technology is infused into their curriculum. Once you have determined your child's learning style, you can help them find a curriculum that meets their learning needs.

Time4Learning is an online homeschool educational system that provides web-based multimedia lessons, interactive activities, printable worksheets, online assessments, answer keys, teacher guides and progress reports for home education. Time4Learning covers grades from Preschool through Middle School with language arts, math, social studies, and science. Time4Learning's popular modular approach makes it ideal as a primary or supplemental curriculum. In many cases, Time4Learning is used as the core curriculum, while in others, parents are using another curriculum and supplementing with reinforcement with Time4Learning.

VISUAL LEARNERS

Visual learners learn best when information is presented visually and in a written or picture form. These learners may also be artistic and enjoy visual art and design. Online education is particularly appealing to visual learners because they are getting all of their information in words and pictures. Students who have been categorized as learning disabled or dyslexic, often are simply highly visual, right-brained learners. Time4Learning includes tools for these learning challenges such as text-to-speech software and graphic organizers for writing lessons.

AUDITORY LEARNERS

Auditory learners learn best when material is presented aurally. When attempting to make sense of something, they often will repeat the information aloud. Sometimes auditory learners enjoy discussing what they are learning with a parent or other adult. Even if auditory learners are excellent readers, they often benefit from hearing their lesson read aloud to them. Time4Learning's text-to-speech software is perfect for this because lessons can be read aloud to students by a cartoon character as they read along.

TACTILE/KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

Tactile/kinesthetic learners are hands-on learners. They enjoy touching, manipulating, and actively engaging in their material. Even tactile learners can benefit from online learning, however. Material that is presented in a 3-D multimedia format can replicate physical demonstrations. Check out the lesson demos at Time4Learning to see how an online curriculum can create an environment of interactive participation for tactile/kinesthetic learners.

Kids like using the computer to learn. Time4Learning is proven effective for kids of all learning styles and all levels of achievement from learning disabled to gifted. It also has a low monthly price, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your kids, risk free!

Whether your child is a visual, auditory, or tactile/kinesthetic learner, Time4Learning is a great homeschool curriculum choice.