IntroductionAll children have different ways of

learning called learning styles. The three main learning styles are auditory, visual, and bodily-kinesthetic. Teachers must connect with students through these individual learning styles. When they incorporate different learning styles in their instruction, teachers can significantly enhance student learning.

Auditory LearnersAuditory learners enjoy talking

and listening.Information becomes real to

them through discussions (Sprenger, 2005).

They remember what they hear more clearly than what they see or feel (Sprenger, 2005).

These learners interpret the essential meaning of speech by listening to tone of voice, pitch, and speed (Learning Styles, n.d.).

Auditory Learners The auditory learning style is most closely

related to Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence.• Verbal intelligence involves the mastery of

language (Nolen, 2003).

It is also related to Musical/Rhythmic and Interpersonal intelligences.

Auditory Learners:Think in wordsFrequently learn by reading or writingTend to become teachers, journalists, writers,

translatorsAre great storytellers and joke tellersAre able to use words with clarityAre great at explainingFollow oral directions wellEnjoy music

Ways Teachers Can Help Auditory Learners

Regulate tone of voice, inflection, and body language when teaching so students will stay focused and attentive (Farwell, 2011).

Let students use self-talk as they work through things.Integrate music into the curriculum as much as

possible. Use songs, melodies, rhythms, and beats to teach skills.

Encourage children to whisper read when they read independently.

Have students participate in small or large group discussions before they work independently (Hutton, 2011).

Auditory learners would benefit from activities such as:DiscussionsDebatesRead aloudsListening to books on tapeReading a text aloudLecturesMaking speeches and presentationsUsing a tape recorder during lecturesCreating songs to help remember things

(Learning Styles, n.d.)

Literacy Coaches can:• Provide staff development for

teachers on the auditory learning style and how to incorporate it into daily instruction.

• Demonstrate lessons that are designed for auditory learners.

• Guide teachers to use appropriate strategies to reach auditory learners ~ discussions, debates, etc.

• Encourage teachers to share teaching strategies that have worked well with auditory learners.

• Start a book club with auditory learners and meet weekly to discuss the book.

Role of the literacy coach in maximizing student achievement

Visual Learners • Visual learners are those that learn best

through seeing them (Fleming 2011).

• The individual process information in picturesrather than words (Silverman & Freed, 1996).

A visual learner:Needs quiet study timeLikes color/dreams in colorUnderstands and likes charts (Fleming, 2011)Make vivid images of movies in their mindPay attention to body language like facial

expressionsCan easily remember size, shape, color, or

texture.

Visual students would benefit from activities such as:Activities that include maps, videos, models, puzzles, matching activities, graphs, computers, and word searches Write down and highlight informationUsing pictures or drawing to express understanding of contentUse visuals to teach lessons, including pictures, graphics, images, charts, outlines, story maps and diagrams

Literacy Coaches can:Videotape strategies that teachers are

effectively practicing in their classrooms. This can produce compelling evidence of best practices (Blachowicz, Obrochta & Fogelberg, 2005).

Can also encourage teachers to videotape their own instruction and then review it in private to reflect on their instruction.

Use visuals in her presentations as well to model teachers the importance of these.

Provide charts that show on how visuals is fundamental to students with limited background knowledge and to English Language Learners.

Bodily Kinesthetic LearnersBodily kinesthetic learners have the ability to

understand and solve problems in the world through body or parts of the body( Armstrong, 2000).

Kinesthesis is the dimensions to act gracefully and to capture directly the actions or the vibrant abilities of other people or objects ( Armstrong, 2000).

A bodily kinesthetic learner:Ability to manipulate objects to learn.Carry out delicate movements using precise

control such as dancers and athletes. Can not sit still for long periods of time.Enjoy keeping their hands busy.

Bodily Kinesthetic students would benefit from activities such as:

Literacy Coaches can:Help the teacher come up with ways to

increase kinesthetic learning opportunities.Support literacy through visual and spatial

representations – such as storyboards, drawing, acting (King & Gurian, 2006).

Co-teach with the teacher to help them get comfortable with these types of activities.

ConclusionLiteracy Coaches are vital to promote instruction that convey the three learning styles. It is through curriculum development, modeling instruction and direct instruction that the learning styles can be implemented. Literacy coaches and teachers must work in partnership. This is essential in order to meet our students needs.

ReferencesArmstrong, T. (2000). Multiple Intelligences in the classroom. Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development located in the

GCU e Library at http://site.ebrary.com/lib/grandcanyon/Doc?id=10044795&ppg=63

Blachowicz, C., Obrochta, C., & Fogelberg, E. (2005). Literacy Coaching For Change. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.uncwil.edu/cte/events/fall05/MidCourseCorrections/literacy%20change.pdf

Farwell, T. (2011). Visual, auditory, kinesthetic learners. Retrieved March 8, 2011, from http://school.familyeducation.com/intelligence/teaching-methods/38519.html

Hutton, S. (2011). Helping Auditory Learners Succeed. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/auditory_learners/

Hutton, S. (2011). Helping Visual Learners Succeed. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Helping_Visual_Learners

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King, K. & Gurian, M. (2006). Teaching to the minds of boys. Retrieved March 8, 2011 from

http://www.floridaliteracycoaches.org/Toolbox/professional_readings/teaching_to_the_minds_of_boys.pdf

Learning styles explained. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Learning%20Styles%20Explained

Logsdon, Amy. (2011). Bodily Kinesthetic Learning Style - Understanding Bodily Kinesthetic Learner. Retrieved March 7, 2011, from http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/resourcesresearch/qt/Bodily_kinesthe.htm

Nolen, J. L. (2003). MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES IN THE CLASSROOM. Education, 124(1), 115-119. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Silverman, L., Freed, J. (1996). The Visual Spatial Learner. Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://www.dyslexia.com/library/silver1.htm

Sprenger, M. (2005). How to teach so students remember. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.