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Homeschool, Kids in School, Learning Styles

What is a Socio-emotional Learner?

What is a Socio-emotional Learner?

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If you have more than one child at home, you are likely more than aware of just how different kids can be. There’s the shy kid, the messy kid, the chatty kid. The kid who’s into sports, the kid who sings, the kid who draws. Each child naturally connects to the people, places, and activities they like best, and these choices present as hobbies, interests, and skills. But being aware of your child’s interests can do more than simply prepare you for which curriculum and learning resources to choose, or which summer camps to sign up for. When it comes to learning, you can channel your child’s interests for the good of their education too!

The first step is to figure out your child’s natural learning style. Knowing your child’s learning style will help you to plan activities in a way that is sure to have a meaningful, lasting effect. The idea of learning styles has been studied since the 1980s; the current VARK model stands for four types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic (VARK).  In more recent years a few other learning styles have been identified including the Socio-Emotional learner. The VARK model is often used to improve lesson delivery and choose how best to teach and guide a child, as a parent, you can use them to help your child learn new things. Knowing your learning style is simply a guide to making smart choices about how your child will learn best. What methods, curriculums, and yes fun will be the best format for your child to learn! (Protip: There are actually a few more learning styles but for the sake of simplicity we will use these!) You can even plan family trips and adventures around these learning styles! Read on for tips and tricks for working with your child’s style.

So what is a Socio-emotional learner?

The socio-emotional learning style is one of the latest to be identified. If your child is a socio-emotional learner, it means they seek out human connection. This is because the relationships help them to process and contextualize their learning. They learn better through group work; this is not the type of learner to do well in silent, individual work time.

Is your kid always chatting with others, no matter who? Do they struggle with working quietly at a desk? Do they obsess a bit over a certain teacher or role model? These behaviors are common to socio-emotional learners. No matter what the subject, you’ll find your kid trying to make sense of their learning through human connection.

Instead of silent reading time, your child will benefit much more from book club discussions. Instead of a self-guided tour, your kid would rather attach themselves to the interesting tour guide. Maybe your kid has been labeled a social butterfly, but their need for socialization runs deeper than simply a desire to spend time with friends.

So what can you do? To start, let your child guide the way! There’s no need to fight your child’s natural interests; use them as sources of inspiration! Look for projects and activities that play to your child’s strengths. While socio-emotional learners can certainly learn by seeing, reading, and doing, they are likely to be most successful in situations that allow them to exercise their high-powered social skills! Try some of the suggestions below when introducing new concepts or practicing old ones so that it better suits your child’s way of learning.

To keep your socio-emotional learner engaged, provide people! Let them work through a project with peers, interview people, or secure additional time to spend with a teacher they admire. Leaning on these relationships will provide your child with purpose and connection. Forging a human connection through their study will reinforce and motivate learning. You’ll be amazed at the difference in engagement when using tools that fit your child.

 

Supporting socio-emotional learners in:

English Language Arts: Small group discussions can help to work through a difficult text. Research pen pal programs to get your kid writing with purpose. Utilize book clubs, theatre groups, and writer’s workshops to provide social connection as your child studies a text. If homeschooled, online classes providing “peer feedback” may be a good fit.

STEM: Working under a mentor with a STEM career will help to provide context and purpose for any area of study. Contact your local museum or university to find opportunities for your child to meet with people in the field. Field trips (Links: Anything Academic ) that allow group interaction will be a hit.

 

Social Studies: Interactive activities such as a living museum, an appropriate historical reenactment with a group of students, or interviewing a historian can be fantastic ways to engage your socio-emotional learner.

 

Social Activities: Socio-emotional learners naturally gravitate to any social activity; provide an academic goal to work towards to turn any group hang into a learning experience! Socio-emotional learners thrive as well in Summer Camps. (Link: Anything Academic ) Find the best options for a summer group of kids to bring their love of adventure and learning to life.

 

While your child may naturally respond best to this learning style, it certainly does not mean other styles won’t be beneficial. Your kid may have a preference for one style over another, but children are incredibly adaptable. Aim to strike a good balance between supporting this learning style, but not limiting your child to it. Learning often happens through a combination of styles and other external factors can weigh into your choices. The value of an outing with Grandma or your child’s best friend’s preference may contribute to their willingness and ability to absorb material as well. We all know our kids are complex and follow their passions! That is the beauty of individualized learning and finding the right teaching methodology for your child or student. Be their guide, and let them find their way. No matter what, listen to what your children or students feedback to you. When you find the “right way” to learn, they will certainly let you know. Having an open discussion about learning styles with children old enough to understand will also help them to guide you. Let them have a voice.

 

Learn more about VARK and learning styles. 

Want to learn about other learning styles? Explore them here:
VisualAuditoryReading/Writing, and Kinesthetic 

Don’t forget to use this knowledge to guide you in picking the correct curriculum.

Finding the Right Curriculum for Your Child’s Learning Style

 

*These articles are meant as a guide and for information only, and are not professional evaluations. For further analysis of your child or student’s learning style consider an evaluation by a professional with for further testing. Anything Academic can help you find both professionals and guides to testing for academics!

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