5 Tips for Homeschooling Auditory Learners

This is the third, and last, in the series on homeschooling according to your child’s learning style. How can we be successfully homeschooling auditory learners? Auditory learners need to listen and hear clearly when learning. Information is stored by the way it sounds and verbal instructions are important. They are good storytellers, so using this strength is key. Oftentimes auditory learners want to talk out what they are learning, or read aloud to themselves, and this can add noise to the classroom. When homeschooling, you can fully embrace the needs of an auditory learner and use the spoken word and their need to hear things fully to their advantage.

5 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY HOMESCHOOLING AUDITORY LEARNERS:

1. Read aloud 

• Research shows that being read to by a parent is more helpful than watching videos or listening to audiobooks, so keep reading aloud to them.
• Follow along with a printed copy of the book
• Use audiobooks
  

2. Read instruction aloud

• For younger children read out instructions
• For older children have them read the directions and instructions out loud
  

3. Encourage talking

•  Follow up assignments by reviewing the material out loud. 
• Ask questions to be sure your child understands the material 
• Ask more open-ended questions 
• Allow them to talk aloud while doing assignments. Letting them hear their own voice often helps children process information better. 
• Use role-play
  

4. Assign oral assignments over written. 

• Because your child learns best by hearing, speaking is extremely beneficial to help the learner remember the information. 
• Allow your child to talk about the current assignment or the research he has done on the subject.
• Instead of having your child draft their writing assignments by hand, help them record what they want to say. They can listen to the playback to identify needed edits.
• Use dictation software
  

5. Have a quiet learning environment

• Noises can easily distract auditory learners so you don’t want the TV or music playing in the background.
• Don’t sit by an open window if the noise outside is loud.
• Too much noise can confuse your auditory learner and they need to learn undistracted.

Other ideas:

• Have your child’s hearing checked regularly
• Group activities or co-op classes where they can talk about what they are learning with other people are good for auditory learners. 
• Take part in homeschool science fairs, art exhibitions, or the such.
• Use video instruction for subjects like math as they provide auditory (and visual) instructions for working the problems. 
• Create songs as mnemonics 
• Instead of making notecards to learn facts, record on a voice recorder and playback.

Here is the vlog/blog on Homeschooling your kinesthetic learner and on homeschooling your visual learner.

Other vlogs on auditory learners:
Helping Auditory Learners Succeed
Learner Centered Tools: Auditory Learners