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My daughter started high school this year. She’s always been smart, learning most things easily without much effort. However, that time comes when even the most brilliant of children has to study. If not before high school, I challenge anyone taking high school history or science to make A’s without hitting the books. She’s doing a great job of staying on top of her assignments, and so far her efforts have paid off. But this week is the first round of tests, so I’m a bit nervous.
Do you have a child who you know is intelligent and who sticks to task when she is doing something that she enjoys? Perhaps he gets overwhelmed when faced by projects that require many steps, preferring instead to get lost in the big picture?
You might be wondering if your child has ADHD and would benefit from medication. That might be the issue, but it still might not solve all the problems. Did you know that many gifted children and children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are visual-spatial learners? The problem is that the vast majority of schools teach in a way that best reaches auditory-spatial learners, who only make up about 25% of the population — 45% are both and 30 % are visual (Being Visual page 12).
As I’ve been reading Bette Fetter’s book Being Visual: Raising a Generation of Innovative Thinkers, qualities of my children — who do happen to be artistic — have jumped out at me, and caused me to evaluate why they might seem to have trouble buckling down to do homework.
Back to my daughter —
She’s recently complained about not being able to concentrate, specifically when she’s reading and studying for her Human Geography class. I didn’t really understand. She likes to read. She’s always been a reader. It should come easily to her. But absorbing large amounts of text in that way is NOT easy for her. Until reading this book, I honestly was thinking she was just making up excuses.
Please click through to my full review of Being Visual over at 5 Minutes for Books to read more of my thoughts. If you notice these qualities in your child (or even yourself!), I highly recommend this book to you. You’ll be able to understand the issue better, and hopefully you’ll be able to incorporate some of her tips. I’ve already tried to use a few:
- Use visual graphic organizers to structure a term paper
- Use color when writing spelling or vocabulary words to aid in memory
- Use pictures and symbols when taking notes
Sarah Yurga says
my daughter has ADHD and autism. She is able to concentrate on things she loves almost to an obsession. I am curious to read this book and see how it might help my daughter.
Jane H says
My son could never focus when reading so we went on field trips, played games etc that would teach the same lessons and suddenly the books made sesnse. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
Jennifer Peaslee says
I liked your post because it reminded me that people learn in different ways. I like the creative ideas for appealing to visual learners, especially using pictures and symbols when taking notes.
Kerrie Mayans says
This is very interesting to me because I am definitely an audio learner. I even read things aloud to myself if I want to remember them but my son isn’t at all. He is mostly visual so there are some great hints and tips for helping him learn and I would love to read this book to learn even more.
Saver Sara says
Use pictures and symbols when taking notes
mary gardner says
these are some great tips and especially like the idea that using symbols and pictures when taking notes is great as well as using colors for spelling and vocabulary words to help with memory
mary gardner says
i also think that using symbols and pictures when taking notes is great as well as using colors for spelling and vocabulary words to help with memory.
jagar0047 at yahoo dot com
mary j. says
I like this suggestion:Use color when writing spelling or vocabulary words to aid in memory
susan smoaks says
I love that this book will help me understand our visual learner and help me to help them learn!
christal c w says
My daughter takes after me,in that she writes notes and put little symbols or signs next to them. I may do this to remember, who knew
rebecca day says
Never realized using color can help so much
Ciara B. says
i love the idea of teaching my son to be more visual
Chelsea M says
I had no idea that using color could help you memorize things! I’ll definitely have to try that out next time I’m studying.
Karen Gonyea says
I like the idea of motion while learning – it engages different memory techniques.
Rachel Newman says
I teach at a school for students with dyslexia and we teach using a multisensory approach, so I am very interested in reading this book.
Valerie Taylor Mabrey says
visual is better for me
vmkids3 at msn dot com
Ed Nemmers says
This would be helpful for my neighbor!
vera says
My friends child has ADHD and I think this book would help her out a lot. I would also love to read it, I had no idea using colors could help so much and I think both my friend and I could benefit from this book.
andrea says
there are so many different types of learning styles
Daniel M says
pictures are always more fun than page after page of boring text
Chelsea says
I totally agree and feel for your daughter… It’s very hard for me to absorb and concentrate on large amounts of written information
Kia says
My daughter with ASD is a visual learner and even though i’m not on the spectrum i find i am as well
Jennifer Nixon says
My son has adhd and he’s Autistic. He has difficulties with the comprehensive side of reading.But he loves reading anyhow.
Stephanie says
I’d love to read this book, with a husband who has severe ADHD, and my first baby on the way. I am a very visual learner, and think everyone learns in their own unique way.
gail says
i agree that using symbols and pictures when notetaking is a good strategy
Margaret Rogers says
I like the idea of using different colors to attract and keep attention.
lana says
Never realized using color can help so much
My Baby Pajamas says
My husband was diagnosed with ADHD at a late age and feels he missed so much of school. It’s great that society is getting a handle on us visual learners and taking some action. I believe schools should take the time to teach in all 3 different teaching styles. Great giveaway!!
Dorothy says
Being a teacher I can relate very well to this topic.
Rachel says
I have always been a more visual/experiential learner which made things difficult, especially once I reached college and then grad school. I love to read this book to see if I could incorporate more visual learning into my life and into curriculum.
renee walters says
I agree that people with ADHD are more visual learners. My daughter struggled through school and was able to improve by watching something and than repeating it. Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
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Susan P. says
It makes sense about people with ADD or ADHD being more visual learners since my huband was diagnosed with ADD at age 45 and has always learned better with visual learning.
ANGEL JACKLYN says
I RECENTLY JUST LEARNED ABOUT WHAT ADHD IS & I HAVE IT AS AN ADULT. IT MAKES COLLEGE VERY, VERY HARD TO TAKE IN. I USED TO BE JUST LIKE TO YOUR DAUGHTER, VERY SMART & GREAT AT WRITING. IF YOU DON’T TREAT YOUR DISORDER THOUGH, IT GETS WORSE WITH AGE & YOU END UP LIKE ME. I WOULD LOOOOOOVE TO READ THIS BOOK & GET TIPS TO HELP ME ABSORB HUGE AMOUNTS OF TEXT AT A TIME! THANKS FOR THE CHANCE!
Randi W. says
Using color. I’ve had to do a lot of public speaking in the past and writing my notes in color always helped. It was a trick that I learned from a teacher while still in elementary school (for spelling words!).
E.S. Ivy says
My son is taking human geography this year too! I’ll have to ask him how the reading is going.
Janelle says
I’m very interested in the ideas in this book. I am a visual /tactile learner, but I was fortunate enough to grow up in an era of educational experimentation and had many hands on learning experiences in my elementary years. Unfortunately, the higher grades weren’t as willing to explore other methods.
I see traits of this in my kids in different ways and would love to know how to make it easier for them.