Teaching Your Reading/Writing Learner

Here at merka, we’ve discussed the theory of various learning styles, one or more of which may apply to your child or student. Thinking in terms of learning styles can help us as parents or teachers to work with our kids in the most helpful way for them. Check out the other posts in our series here: Teaching Your Kinesthetic Learner, Teaching Your Auditory Learner, and Teaching Your Visual-Spatial Learner.


So, what’s a reading/writing learner? Well, it’s pretty self-explanatory, but it’s good to flesh out the details, because with all of our creative teaching approaches, sometimes we can actually overlook the most traditional learning style!


The Reading/Writing Learner

A reading/writing learner excels at retaining information through the printed word. This can take many forms. For example:

  • Lists (see what I did there?),
  • Dictionary definitions,
  • Note-taking,
  • Essays,
  • Textbooks,
  • Manuals,
  • Journaling,
  • and more.

A traditional classroom setting can be perfect for the reading/writing learner. If the format is based on writing notes from a lecture, reading assigned material, or being tested in an essay format, the reading/writing learner will be able to retain what they’re learning.


How the Reading/Writing Learner Can Study

So, what are other helpful ways to study for this learning style?

  • They can paraphrase or reword information themselves.
  • They can reread and rewrite their notes.
  • They can read other information about the topic they’re learning about.
  • Like I mentioned before, list-making is one of the best ways the reading/writing learner can remember facts.

What About the Other Learning Styles?

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if you’re a reading/writing learner or an auditory learner. Since I love to read and write, I assumed that was my learning style.

But actually, I’m primarily an auditory learner. Whether I’m reading something or writing it out, if I want to remember it, I have to say it out loud. (These two learning styles definitely overlap, though!)

On the other hand, if as a reading/writing learner you’re dealing with the other two learning styles (visual-spatial and kinesthetic), it can be a little more challenging to alter them to help you learn.

What are you supposed to do with a chart? Or a diagram? Or a movement-based activity?

The Study Gurus suggest that if you’re looking at a chart or picture, you describe it using notes or subheadings.

Similarly, if you have an activity that incorporates movement for learning, or you’re doing a science experiment, you can describe it in writing to help you remember it and understand it.


Bonus Tips for the Reading/Writing Learner

  • Storytelling can be used in many different kinds of learning experiences. Adding a story to an abstract concept helps you give words to the idea you want to remember.
  • Sometimes reading/writing learners particularly struggle with math. If you or your child experiences this, make sure you read the chapters and/or explanations that go along with the math concepts, before you try to actually work them out.
  • What about for younger learners? It’s hard to tell whether they’re a reading/writing learner before they can even read… but we do know that if they can’t read yet, being read to is the next best thing!

Happy reading!

Take care,

merka family

Leave A Comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published