Not everyone learns the same way!
I am the mother of two boys who are both visual spatial learners (VSLs). It took me a while to figure out that their brains work in a totally different way than mine does (I'm pretty heavily on the auditory-sequential side, with only slight VSL tendencies). One of my earliest clues was when my older son, at the age of two, was already doing 30 piece jigsaw puzzles by himself, when his friends were still playing with those little wooden picture puzzles. Not only that, but he would master them so quickly that he would FLIP THE PIECES OVER so they were cardboard-side-up to make it more of a challenge (he still completed the puzzle in next to no time!)
My sons are now eight and ten, and they are very definitely VSLs. Unfortunately, this learning style is not well understood, and most formal types of education programs do not meet the needs of VSLs. Not only that, but VSLs are often misdiagnosed with learning disabilities, when they just need their learning needs to be accomodated.
I am making this lens to help spread the word about the amazing minds of all the VSLs out there, and to make sure their learning needs get met. This lens is focussed on the needs of children who are VSLs, but of course all those kids grow up to be adult VSLs so you may find out YOU or your spouse is a VSL and you never knew it!
My sons are now eight and ten, and they are very definitely VSLs. Unfortunately, this learning style is not well understood, and most formal types of education programs do not meet the needs of VSLs. Not only that, but VSLs are often misdiagnosed with learning disabilities, when they just need their learning needs to be accomodated.
I am making this lens to help spread the word about the amazing minds of all the VSLs out there, and to make sure their learning needs get met. This lens is focussed on the needs of children who are VSLs, but of course all those kids grow up to be adult VSLs so you may find out YOU or your spouse is a VSL and you never knew it!
How Can You Identify A Visual Spatial Learner?
Children who are visual spatial learners:
-remember what they see but forget what they hear
-have a vivid imagination
-get so absorbed in creative play that they lose all sense of time
- enjoy computer games
-like taking things apart to see how they work
-enjoy solving puzzles and mazes
-find it difficult to learn "easy" things like days of the week, but master difficult concepts effortlessly.
Visual spatial learners have been described as children who "would rather spend the day with a new box of LEGOs than do nearly anything else in the world."
The "negative side" of VSL
Children who are visual spatial learners are often labeled unorganized, unfocused, poor spellers or worse (e.g. learning disabled). That's why it's important to identify your child as a VSL and understand how they learn best.
-remember what they see but forget what they hear
-have a vivid imagination
-get so absorbed in creative play that they lose all sense of time
- enjoy computer games
-like taking things apart to see how they work
-enjoy solving puzzles and mazes
-find it difficult to learn "easy" things like days of the week, but master difficult concepts effortlessly.
Visual spatial learners have been described as children who "would rather spend the day with a new box of LEGOs than do nearly anything else in the world."
The "negative side" of VSL
Children who are visual spatial learners are often labeled unorganized, unfocused, poor spellers or worse (e.g. learning disabled). That's why it's important to identify your child as a VSL and understand how they learn best.
Learn More About Visual Spatial Learners
- Gifted Development Center
- An excellent collection of articles on the visual spatial learner.
- Visual Thinking
- Another collection of articles on VSL. These are in Word document format!
- Is Your Child a VSL?
- A quiz to help you determine if your child is a VSL (in PDF format).
Learning Needs of the Visual Spatial Learner
-Visual-spatial learners think in pictures rather than in words, so they learn better by doing hands on tasks or looking at pictures or other visual images (e.g. videos), rather than listening to someone talk or reading/writing
-They learn to read by recognizing whole words, not by "sounding out" the letters.
-They do not learn from repetition and drill. They need to see "the big picture" first before they learn the details.
-They are non-sequential, which means that they do not learn in a "step-by-step" fashion.They arrive at correct solutions all at once rather than in steps, so the concept of "showing your work" may be impossible for them.
VSL kids learn best from hands-on projects, games, and visual media (e.g. television, movies, videos, YouTube). Most VSLs are not particularly drawn to books and reading. There are many more ways to learn something than just from a book!
-They learn to read by recognizing whole words, not by "sounding out" the letters.
-They do not learn from repetition and drill. They need to see "the big picture" first before they learn the details.
-They are non-sequential, which means that they do not learn in a "step-by-step" fashion.They arrive at correct solutions all at once rather than in steps, so the concept of "showing your work" may be impossible for them.
VSL kids learn best from hands-on projects, games, and visual media (e.g. television, movies, videos, YouTube). Most VSLs are not particularly drawn to books and reading. There are many more ways to learn something than just from a book!
A visual spatial learner in action!
Books on Visual Spatial Learning
Upside-Down Brilliance: The Visual Spatial Learner
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010) 
Raising Topsy-Turvy Kids: Successfully Parenting Your Visual-Spatial Child
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
Video Games, Media and Learning
VSL children are drawn to video games, computers, movies and television. Of course they are - that's how they learn best! These books discuss the BENEFITS of these media to our children's learning and brain development.
What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. Second Edition: Revised and Updated Edition
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 02/09/2010)
Don't Bother Me Mom--I'm Learning!
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 02/09/2010)
Everything Bad is Good for You
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 02/09/2010)
Lego - the VSL Kid's Favourite Toy!
Lego Crazy Action Contraptions: A LEGO Inventions Book (Klutz)
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 02/09/2010)
Forbidden Lego: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against!
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 02/09/2010)
The Lego Mindstorms NXT Zoo! An Unofficial, Kid-Friendly Guide to Building Robotic Animals with the Lego Mindstorms NXT
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 02/09/2010)
LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT: The Mayan Adventure (Technology in Action)
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 02/09/2010)
One of the many Lego creations designed by my boys
Other Great Building Toys
VSL kids will be in heaven with any of these!
Knex Value Tub 400 pieces
Amazon Price: $21.00 (as of 02/09/2010)
Erector Special Edition Dual (2) Motor Designer METAL Construction Set - 50 Motorized Models
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
Guidecraft 72-pc. Magneatos Construction Set
Amazon Price: $50.40 (as of 02/09/2010)
Mega Brands 200-Count Magnetix Ultimate Magna-Case
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
Games VSLs Will Love!
ThinkFun Rush Hour
Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 02/09/2010)
ThinkFun River Crossing
Amazon Price: $14.70 (as of 02/09/2010)
Tangram
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
SET Game
Amazon Price: $8.06 (as of 02/09/2010)
Reading and Your VSL Child
Most VSL kids would rather do a lot of other things than read a book. They also typically will be "late" readers, some of whom will not be ready to fully grasp reading skills until age 10 or older. Once they are ready, often it's just like a switch got flipped on in their brain - they will be off and running with it, and within a few months of starting to read, they can have advanced reading skills.
VSL kids can develop reading skills from:
-playing online games where they need to read instructions and chat with their friends
-reading Lego magazine, Nintendo Power, and gaming manuals (there is strong motivation to read the material since it's based on their interests)
-reading graphic novels and comic books (the pictures help them put the words in context)
A VSL should never be forced to read before they're ready - stigmatizing them in this way could have long term consequences. They will read when they are ready!
VSL kids can develop reading skills from:
-playing online games where they need to read instructions and chat with their friends
-reading Lego magazine, Nintendo Power, and gaming manuals (there is strong motivation to read the material since it's based on their interests)
-reading graphic novels and comic books (the pictures help them put the words in context)
A VSL should never be forced to read before they're ready - stigmatizing them in this way could have long term consequences. They will read when they are ready!
Reading maps is much more natural for VSLs than reading books. My 8 yr old drew this one!
Good Reading Choices for VSL Kids
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga: Prima Official Game Guide (Prima Official Game Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 02/09/2010)
RuneScape: The Official Handbook
Amazon Price: $6.90 (as of 02/09/2010)
Cartoon History of the Universe 1 Vol. 1-7 (Cartoon History of the Universe) (Pt.1)
Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 02/09/2010)
Commencement (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Vol. 1)
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 02/09/2010)
Batman: Secrets of the Batcave
Amazon Price: $14.03 (as of 02/09/2010)
Are you the parent of a VSL? Or maybe one yourself? I'd love to hear your comments!
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- KarenMcLaughlin KarenMcLaughlin Apr 11, 2009 @ 11:38 am | in reply to Karen
- Sorry it's taken me so long to respond - kinda crazy life around here lately :) We are unschoolers, so we don't use a curriculum. In evaluating your options, I would look for something that incorporates the types of elements I have discussed in the lens, and is not "book heavy" in emphasis - VSLs need lots of videos, manipulatives, and experiential activities. I would recommend checking out the Upside Down Brilliance book for some more detailed ideas.
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- Karen Karen Feb 9, 2009 @ 11:55 am
- My 12 year old son is highly visual spatial. I have decided finally to homeschool him and i need any curriculum ideas out there.
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- Matthias from Germany Matthias from Germany Feb 7, 2009 @ 6:03 am
- Thank you for the creation of this page. It is in some part helpful. As I am maybe also a VSL which were nearly unsupported and unrecognised at my childhood in the 70th. I have now a son who definitely have many VSL behaviour (LEGO, Puzzles, easy understand to complex thing for his age (4) but sometimes lack a bit the use of simple things). As I have maybe myself my own experience I maybe can assist his development a bit better as my parents did.
I am very happy to found now many webpages and materials related to VSL but sadly it seems it is still something not well know in the German speaking regions but maybe or hopefully the awareness will rise as I also recognise that the amount of people behave or understand things in a systemic manner which is closely related to VS-learning and VS-recognition rise.
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- KarenMcLaughlin KarenMcLaughlin Dec 5, 2008 @ 6:58 pm | in reply to Rita
- Animal Crossing (for Gamecube, Wii, or DS) is a favourite of many under-10 kids and I know a few kids who learned to read from playing it!
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- Rita Rita Nov 29, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
- I'm looking for a video game that teaches reading strategies to a VSL kid. My son is 8. Any suggestions?
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by KarenMcLaughlin
I am an unschooling mom of two amazing boys and have been happily married to my high school sweetie since 1995. We share our lives with four pets: a l... (more)
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