Kinesthetic Learning Style

Like you, I'm a kinesthetic learner and I've just barely learned that by using the following techniques I'm able to do so much better and learn more/retain more information from my classes and long study sessions.

You'll really feel like you've unlocked the vault to your mind when you see your grades increasing so get ready! All it takes is studying on your part and a commitment to follow through with the suggestions to get those A's.

You should study 3 hours per every hour of class time!


So how badly do you want that A++?

As a kinesthetic learner, I have to admit, I do find it hard to sit still for even an hour! So what I've done that helps is I promise myself after 1 hour of studying I can take a 15 minute break.

Caution, you need to time yourself and discipline yourself to get back to the books when your break is over.

Give yourself something to look forward to for your next break. I look ahead to that and it helps to keep me going.

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If you don't know how to study for exams then you need to first start out by finding your learning style.

This is extremely important.

If you don't pull anything from this page then pull this vital piece of information because it can make or break you when it comes to exam time!

You NEED to know your learning style because this is how you learn information the best. Unfortunately, your learning style may not coincide with your instructor's teaching style. They will usually teach in the format of their own learning style. There are ways to get around it though; you just need to make some adjustments to your studying.

There are three main types of learning styles which are: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic/Tactile.

If you don't know what kind of learner you are then PLEASE check out this great link for a short, free quiz to find your learning style!

(Don't worry, I'll still be here waiting after you finish, assuming you have a kinesthetic learning style like me!)

If you've read and read until the sun won't shine and you still can't manage to get that sought after A+ in class then why not try writing out your notes or write while you are reading?

When going over your chapters or whatever material you are learning, get your pen and paper out and start writing!

In my experience, I've found that my grades have risen to A's when I completely re-write the entire chapter I'm studying in my own words.

Most people will NOT recommend this because it is a ton of work and looking back it really was a lot of work, so I really don't recommend this for you. Instead, you should write out the very important points only.

After reading your paragraph ask yourself, "What did I just read?"

If you have to explain the paragraph you have just read to someone else what would you tell them? It helps to pretend you are trying to teach that person a lesson. Whenever I've read a paragraph I'll pretend I'm trying to teach someone who is not versed with the subject matter. This way you break it down into easy tidbits that anyone can understand.

Pretend you are teaching your younger sister, brother or even explaining it to your mom or dad or significant other. Summarize it and in your head give them a little lesson on what you have read!

Another tip is to turn the headlines into questions that you need to answer after you've finished summarizing the section that you've just read.

To prevent yourself from zoning out (like I sometimes do) re-write the section in your own words!

Asking yourself the question "What did I learn from this paragraph?" will help to ensure you thoroughly understood the main point and any supporting facts to go with it. After you've asked yourself the question then write down the answers.

Quiz Yourself!

Do this after every paragraph! By doing this you prevent yourself from zoning out and can engage your tactile learning style by writing a few questions down and then answering them correctly.



One of my fellow classmates recently asked me how I was preparing for exams and I told him my method. He said to me, "It sounds like a lot of work." I of course, agree.

But you are studying anyway! So why not put in 110% instead of just 50% effort?

While it may seem like a lot of work, you really have to think about how bad you want that A. How motivated are you? This will really help you to boost your grades and LEARN THE BEST!

What's the point of studying hard and then forgetting everything you just read the day after your exam?
If you need to study for long term retention, this is the way to do it my fellow kinesthetic learner!

Okay, if you're like me then there MAY come a time when you just didn't effectively cover your study material and you have an exam coming up that you are in no way prepared for.

When you don't have the time to re-write or re-type the chapter there is a quicker method to help you.

Take a look and consider this as just another technique to add to your arsenal for good grades..

The above method is a great one (and my preferred method), but after a while your one hand (whether you are right or left handed) will start to get tired and need a break.

When you know it's time for something different, try taking your book to the computer and sitting it right in front of you. While you are reading each sentence you will also type out what you are reading. If you think it is too much to type out every single word then do as above and just type out the main points.

This is helpful with the "touching" that you need to learn.

Major Word of Warning Ahead!

You NEED to PAY ATTENTION to what you are typing out.

DO NOT ZONE OUT, you still need to pay attention. Read it back to yourself in your head and then ask yourself, "What does this mean?," and "Do I understand this idea?"

Like the writing method, it will help you a lot if you also type it out in your own words. This way you know you are really engaging your mind to formulate a new paragraph that makes sense.

Quiz Yourself!

At the end of each section quiz yourself on what it was all about to ensure you've grasped the concepts that you've just typed out.

If you can't answer questions correctly about the paragraph or section you've typed out then go back and find the answers and quiz yourself again.

It is crucial to catch yourself when you know you did not grasp something.

If you move on and ignore it, you will not recall it come test time! This is your chance to polish your knowledge so do it.

I think that performing calculations or solving word problems give us tactile/kinesthetic learners an advantage.
Why?

I'll tell you why, because in order to do math, you have to be interactive and practice the problems and drill them into your head. This means writing and doing, ACTION.

This is how you learn the best if you are a kinesthetic learner.

Go over the problems over and over and over again, write them out and solve them. If you have math anxiety, this drilling will REALLY help you.

If you drill the problems into your head enough times (repeat, repeat, repeat) when test time arrives you will feel almost like a little robot because you will know exactly what to do.

If you have problems grasping the concepts find a good tutor! Drill, drill, drill until the sun comes up!