Right vs. Left Brain Learning:How Does Your Child Learn Best?

    With education research suggesting a variety of strategies and techniques for learning, how can you select the best suited strategies for your child? Considering the functions of brain hemispheres and your child’s preference will provide guidance in this area. 
Understanding the hemispheres and the most effective methods for presentation of information is essential in facilitating the learning process.

    The primary methods used in classrooms appeal to eft brain learners.  These
learners assimilate new information into their short term memory through concentration and structured lessons.  This brain hemisphere is responsible for interpreting auditory
information and works with details to synthesize the main idea.  Left brain learners excel on tasks involving logical/analytical processing and understand the nuisances of language with ease.  These traits naturally lend themselves to today’s classrooms in which
lessons are established in a structured format involving rigorous demands of
language.

     The question then becomes what if a child possesses the ability to learn through pictures and colors, understands and thrives when humor is integrated into the lesson and understands the whole idea before breaking it down into essential components? 
These attributes describe many right brain learners.  They learn through movement and visual stimuli.  The right brain hemisphere is responsible for long-term memory and
automatic processing.  Students  that are right brain dominate prefer options when completing a task.  They enjoy environments that are unstructured. 
 
     With a basic idea of the brain hemispheres and their role in the learning process, how can you better equip your child to excel in the classroom?  I believe a strengths
focused approach is ideal.  Praising and emphasizing your child’s strengths is essential. 
As I previously shared, for students with a right brain preference, visuals are key. Developing interesting stories and pictures to accompany challenging spelling words will assist in recall. For instance, while working with a first grader on the word city, I created buildings and streets integrating each letter of the word.  I then went on to explain that all the individuals in the city had a special power, they could fly.  The use of visuals can be extended to math facts as well.  These methods provide right brain dominate children with the “hooks” needed to improve their recall.  On the contrary, left brain dominate child learn best through activities involving the structure and practice. 
Therefore, spelling activities requiring them to write words several times using paint, markers, and/or scented colored pencils are fun ways to create memorable learning experiences.  Left brain learners would benefit from audio books and video lectures on
a specific topic or process.    

     Through careful observation and study, your child’s learning preferences emerge.  Carefully noting these preferences and considering them when supporting instruction at
home will benefit your child.  Whether your child is right or left brain dominate, making learning a memorable and engaging experience is essential in creating life-long learners.