{Note from Amy: When I first saw this new link up at my friend Stef’s blog, Educating Laytons, I was so excited because it is such a unique and much needed resource! I asked her to explain a bit more for my readers because I truly believe this will prove to be a very useful homeschooling link up.}
I started homeschool five years ago unprepared. I had no idea what a “learning style” was let alone that my son favored two!
Again and again I would blurt, “why do you have to touch everything – look with your eyes”. At the learning table children should be able to explore and learn how they are hardwired because we all learn differently.
I believe discovering your homeschooler’s learning style and teaching toward it is the best thing you can do for them!
My nine year old is a tactile visual learner. Not only does he want to see everything, but he also wants to draw, paint, or build everything.
I took a chance one morning by throwing a blob of play doh on the table after an anatomy lesson. The boy sculpted organs for majority of the day. While I tried not to faint after each creation … his smile grew because his hands loved the challenge.
I quickly started wondering how I could add more hands on fun to the day.
I figured to make geography more interesting he could build famous land marks out of the 5lbs of Legos he had in his room. Places I thought would be challenging – like the Leaning Tower of Pisa – he created in just a few minutes. I read the history and he recreated it with his hands.
I figured my blog was a great place to show off all the boy’s creations, but I was surprised by the comments I received. The simple projects I thought were goofy (and something time consuming) were applauded by other moms.
I wanted to share our ideas in hopes of encouraging others with our excitement for hands on learning, but also wanted to see new ideas. I created a weekly blog link up called Tactile Tuesday where homeschool bloggers can share projects, ideas, and fun with other tactile homeschooling families!
I hope you’ll join us on Tuesdays and either pick up a new tactile idea or share one with us!
Stef is wife to Thad and mom to two creative boys. They spend their days homeschooling year round in Florida. You can find her blogging at Educating Laytons or contributing bimonthly to The Happy Housewife.
Mom says
“Does your children…”? Shouldn’t the title of this post be, “Do your children….” or “Does your child…”
Just trying to be helpful. 🙂
Amy says
THANK YOU!!! I have a 9-year-old son who is the same way. Sometimes it makes me feel like pulling my hair out. Now I see how I can use the way God wired him to help him learn.
Stef says
THAT WAS ME! Your homeschool might change to a bit messy – even a little unschool-ish (gasp) but it will be worth it! And he will thrive learning according to the way he was designed!
Cindy says
PSssst. Your title has Bushitis. (Remember when he gave a speech and asked “Is our children learning?”)
Stef says
what in the world is Bushitis (cause it sorta looked like something else to me)
Amy says
Bush…itis and yes, I didn’t read it right the first time either. 😉
Cindy says
LOL. I didn’t catch that possible reading of it. Oops.
Amy says
Just realized that! I know exactly what happened too! I wrote one thing and then rewrote part of it and then pregnancy brain blinded me. I am doing this more and more lately…ugh!
Cindy says
It’s bad when you’re pregnant. Worse when you’re nursing. You’ve got nothing on me. You should see some of the crazy things I’ve done lately. 😉
Cindy says
Now here’s my real comment: I really need to work on getting more tactile experiences for my oldest child. I just don’t think that way. I’ve been following your (Stef’s) Tactile Tuesday and trying to plan for more of that stuff. Maybe I’ll even have the foresight to take pictures and blog about it so I can link up. 🙂
Stef says
Between me and you …. Do you know – I don’t plan majority of the additional tactile work. We do the lesson first and then I throw the stuff on the table and it just either comes to me or him. Build this – sculpt that – draw this (usually everything is draw this), etc. Sometimes I can think of it before but it’s not until we’re actually doing it that it hits me, “we could totally make that”.
lisa says
This is great!! My 11yo ds is TOTALLY this type of learner! I struggle because I do not think the same way. This makes it difficult for me to make learning exciting for him. I am really looking forward to the coming Tuesday ‘sjune ideas!! Thank you!
Mary A. says
Thank you for this! My oldest daughter is definitely a tactile learner. I am not sure if it’s just because she’s so young and that’s how preschoolers tend to learn best, or if it is a learning style of hers. Today on our walk to the park she stopped to touch the letters on a sign by the sidewalk, and insisted on reciting the names of each letter as she touched them. To me it made no sense, but it was neat watching her learn in her own way.