Have you been wondering what learning style your child is? Maybe you know your child is auditory and you are looking for some resources or homeschool curriculum that is specifically geared towards auditory learners. Look no further!
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What IS an Auditory Learner?
Wikipedia defines an auditory learner as follows:
An auditory learner is a style in which a person learns through listening. An auditory learner depends on hearing and speaking as a main way of learning. Auditory learners must be able to hear what is being said in order to understand and may have difficulty with instructions that are drawn but if the writing is in a logical order it can be easier to understand. They also use their listening and repeating skills to sort through the information that is sent to them.
This learner is easily distracted by noise, loves to hear themselves speak, and listens and retains auditory information or lessons very well. You may catch them moving their lips while reading or wanting to read aloud rather than in their mind. My son is quite auditory and though he doesn’t look or do anything, he can repeat nearly verbatim what he has been taught if he has heard it aloud. This type of learner can help themselves a lot once they understand their learning style. Instead of just reading, remind them to read it aloud. When they are studying or trying to remember something, remind them to say it. Let THEM speak or teach a lesson and they will remember it much faster.
How do I know if my child is an Auditory Learner?
First, stop what you’re doing and head over to take the Learning Style Quiz. I designed this quiz to approach learning both in AND out of the classroom. It’s only 10 questions and you can do it for yourself, for all your children, etc. and see whether you have an auditory learner or not.
Take the Learning Style Quiz
Once you have taken the test, you can confirm your findings by asking yourself a few questions about your child. Ask yourself if your child meets the definition or characteristics of an auditory learner above.
If so, CONGRATULATIONS! You have an auditory learner on your hands!
My Top 10 Resources/Curriculum for Teaching an Auditory Learner
As a socials studies curriculum, this is hands down my favorite I have come across. The reason I love it is two-fold.
1. It is written as a Story, but more specifically, HIS story. It is world history as it coincides with Biblical history. All told together. I think it is the most incredible, fascinating, well-written piece of curriculum I have ever come across and to be honest, can’t wait to sit down and dig in, I mean REALLY dig in when all the kids are a bit older. It can be done with a huge age range however we are waiting until all our kids are about grade 3 and up before we start it. Just so that we don’t have to repeat anything and can go through it all together as a family.
2. It has an auditory component! You can purchase the entire book as a digital mp3 OR CD audiobook. To me, this is epic 😉 I can’t wait to have the kids listen to their history and I think for anyone who has an auditory learner, this is a fantastic history curriculum that would work amazing!
If you are looking for a secular auditory socials studies resource, Story of the World is similar in that it is written as a story. It is well written and also has audiobooks to go along with it so the kids can listen and follow along in the textbook. It also works a bit better for younger kids. I would say grade 2 and up would be able to retain quite a bit from it.
I still love the fact that it is written as a story, SO much better than the dry informative, fact memorization I grew up with! I have purchased this set as well. You know, a girl’s gotta have options! 😉
3. Audiobooks!
Audiobooks are your very best friend with an auditory learner. For language arts, get them to read along with the CD or mp3 version. The combination of listening and reading will make it stick and completely change the learning experience for them (and the level of frustration for you!).
If you have an auditory learner I HIGHLY recommend trying out Audible from Amazon. They have a 30 day free trial and you can download 2 free books during that time to try out. After that each month you can download a new book and exchange it anytime for another one if you don’t like it.
Also, make sure to check out your local library. There are tons of great audiobooks available and they can order a lot in for you.
4. A+ Tutorsoft Math.
I bring up this math program because of its auditory component. The visual lessons and graphics are all accompanied by the audible explanation. Every question is read every lesson is spoken, it is simple and easy to follow and incredible comprehensive! Before you begin you can take the Adaptive Placement Test to see where your child is at and what learning gaps they have. Then you can do the customized learning plan to fill those gaps and get them back on track. I wrote a detailed review about the program that you can read HERE. This has been an amazing resource for our family and I am so excited to be able to offer you some amazing discounts! Click on the image or click HERE to get your adaptive placement test and lesson plan.
5. Sonlight.
If you have the time to do one-on-one with your child, I highly recommend Sonlight. We have tried this and LOVE the program. It is all learning based off of reading aloud to your child (or your older child reading to themselves). Learning Bible, History and LA through literature. It is a more expensive program but it has everything you need to teach your child, an extensive teachers guide to walk you through your day-to-day lessons, and a 1 year satisfaction guarantee!
Sign up for a free account HERE or by clicking the image below if you want to browse and see what they have to offer and you’ll get $5 off. They also have live chat available to help you choose the package that’s right for you!
Have you heard of Schoolhouseteachers.com? It is like a homeschool gold mine! You can select courses by subject, by grade level, etc. I have the one year membership and it is amazing! I LOVE the science experiments by Jason Lindsey (Hooked on Science). It has a wealth of information and resources for teaching including planners for you!
I wrote a detailed review of this amazing resource you can see HERE. It is far cheaper than purchasing individual curriculum, you have access for a year, and there are AMAZING courses on there to help teach an auditory learner.
Click on the image or CLICK HERE to grab your membership.
Auditory learners do fantastic with videos. They are getting the auditory component they need with the added bonus of the visual entertainment to draw them in. If you haven’t heard about the Facebook group Homeschooling with Netflix, you need in! It has a ton of ideas for educational videos on you can find on Netflix!
8. FREE ONLINE RESOURCE: E-Learning for Kids.
I stumbled upon E-learning when I put together my Master Homeschool Curriculum List and I love it!
It is a great resource full of online lessons for all different kinds of subjects. There are TONS of lessons available and they are really fun. It is free, no cost, no signing up or membership, and great for your auditory learner.
9. Ditty Bugs.
This one gets it’s very own section. I LOVE this CD. Your kids will learn days of the week, months, seasons, important dates, facts, and more! It has 50 fun rhyming, rhythmical ditties specifically designed for auditory learners. It is fun, the ditties stick in your head, and the whole family will be rocking and learning together!
10. Noise Cancelling Headphones
Just as auditory learners learn best by hearing, they are also HIGHLY distracted by what they hear! If you have a busy household I highly recommend EITHER some noise cancelling headphones OR trying out some classical music in some headphones. It can help them focus and minimize distractions. My son LOVES listening to Mozart while he does his school and he does it much faster than when he can hear the regular hum drum of life around him.
Have FUN with your Auditory Learner.
Auditory Learners can be memorization whizzes. Take advantage of this and tailor their education towards their learning style. For a younger child this means teaching them their lessons, putting them together orally. If you have an older child, it is important for them to understand what makes them tick. Get them to read their lessons out loud or do oral reports for the family. Show them ways they can hear themselves and gather and find information that blends with their learning style.
What is YOUR Favorite Resource for Teaching an Auditory Learner?
