Learning Styles
Learning styles is the debunked theory that students learn best through their preferred sensory channel (visual, auditory, kinesthetic), though using multiple approaches does improve learning for everyone.
You're not alone
If you've been told your teen is a "kinesthetic learner" or tried to match teaching to their "learning style" without success, you're not alone. The learning styles myth is one of the most persistent neuromyths in education, believed by over 90 percent of teachers despite lack of evidence. The good news is that evidence-based strategies work better than trying to identify and match learning styles.
What it looks like day to day
Student
Your teen insists they can't learn from reading because they're a "visual learner," not realizing that reading is visual and their struggle might be with comprehension strategies.
Parent
You spend energy trying to find the "right" learning style for your teen instead of focusing on proven strategies that work for all learners.
Tiny steps to try
- 1
Combine multiple inputs
Use visual aids AND verbal explanation AND hands-on practice. Multiple channels strengthen learning for everyone.
- 2
Match method to content
Use diagrams for geography, discussion for literature, practice for math. Let subject matter guide approach.
- 3
Teach learning strategies
Focus on evidence-based techniques like retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and elaboration instead of learning styles.
- 4
Encourage flexibility
Help your teen try different approaches rather than limiting themselves to one supposed style.
- 5
Build metacognition
Teach your teen to monitor what actually helps them learn through experimentation, not style labels.
Why the learning styles myth persists
The idea that your teen is a "visual learner" or "auditory learner" feels intuitively right and offers a simple explanation for learning struggles. However, decades of research have found no evidence that matching instruction to supposed learning styles improves outcomes.
What the research actually shows:
• No reliable way to assess learning styles exists
• Students don't learn better when taught in their "preferred" style
• All brains benefit from multiple representations
• Subject matter, not style, determines best teaching method
• Believing in fixed styles can limit learning approaches
• Mixed methods work better than any single approach
The real key is using varied, evidence-based strategies regardless of supposed "style."
References
Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning styles: Concepts and evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105-119.
Willingham, D. T., Hughes, E. M., & Dobolyi, D. G. (2015). The scientific status of learning styles theories. Teaching of Psychology, 42(3), 266-271.
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Frequently Asked Questions
But my teen definitely seems to learn better through movement/visuals/listening. How is that not a learning style?
Having preferences or strengths doesn't validate the learning styles theory. Your teen might prefer movement, but research shows they'll learn even better combining movement WITH visual and auditory input. What seems like a learning style might actually be stronger background knowledge, better attention in certain conditions, or more developed skills in that area.
If learning styles are a myth, why do so many teachers believe in them?
The myth persists because it feels intuitive, offers simple solutions, and confirms our observations that students differ. Teachers see real differences in how students engage, but these differences stem from prior knowledge, interests, cognitive abilities, and motivation rather than fixed learning channels. The education industry has also promoted learning styles despite lack of evidence.
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