Learning Styles

I do not believe that teachers should teach to perceived learning styles. When educators teach to perceived learning styles, they automatically set limitations on what their students are capable of learning. Teacher expectations of their students are lowered as well as students productivity.

When teachers teach to perceived learning styles, they do not allow their students to strive to attain greater goals for themselves. The students simply perform at the level perceived to be appropriate by the teacher the style that the teacher deems appropriate for them. Students are not encouraged to exceed expectations set for them and may settle for working to their perceived style.

In my opinion, the most effective educators are those that teach to all learning styles. In addition, I believe that students' learning styles may change over time. As students are exposed to more content and are given the opportunity to expand their learning, their learning styles may be subject to change.

I have observed this within my own fist grade classroom. Students tend to begin the year as timid, non-risk takers. Of course this is not always the case, but it depends on the educational background of the student. As the more timid learners begin to make new discoveries, their learning styles begin to develop and change. They may initially appear to be more visual learners initially, and then emerge more as oral learners by the end of the year.

If an educator simply teaches to one perceived learning style, student growth and understanding may be stunted. Teachers must be open to teaching to all styles so as to not limit their students.