very special learners
getting a look at visual/spatial learning

by Becca Orlowski

[ Parts one and two of a special two-part series ]

Part I

A visual/spatial learner (or VSL) is a very special learner, indeed. A VSL primarily learns visually rather than aurally and does not easily learn sequentially. A VSL tends to have excellent spatial abilities and excels in strategy games, such as chess. Such learners love to see how things work and are often creatively, mathematically, or technically gifted. They may struggle with simple tasks and commands, but can jump to high-level thinking skills easily. They usually have a keen sense of humor and love to learn through comics and other humorous materials.

Since most schools are designed for auditory-sequential learners, visual/spatial learners benefit greatly from a homeschooling environment that can accommodate their unconventional way of learning.

A picture is worth ...
VSLs think more in pictures than words, though many are exceptional readers. They usually learn whole-to-part and need to see the "big picture" before the light bulb goes on. When it does, they retain the information permanently and do not need the repetition that is found in many curricula.

A difficult area for some VSLs is writing. Because they generally think in pictures, they need to first translate the visual image into words, which can take a while. Only then can their thoughts be expressed in writing. So instead of a two step process, writing involves three. Using dictation can alleviate some of the struggle.

Mind mapping can also be useful. Mind mapping, where the parent does the writing for the child, is a writing prompt that uses pictures and words in colorful bubbles written on paper. That gets the big ideas out for the child to see. They can then organize their thoughts using the visuals and words already written for them, lowering their stress in expressing just the right words.

The curriculum juggle
Because these learners don't learn sequentially, it can be frustrating to use ordinary curricula because VSLs tend to jump around in the book. They either do not want nor feel the need to complete many of the exercises. They master some of the information before the parent has presented it, and then switch to a different level or book.

It is helpful that a parent recognize this type of learner and avoid forcing the child into needless repetition or criticism for jumping around without mastering one level before moving on to the next. It is important to realize that these children will often understand much higher level concepts while struggling with simple ones.

Math memorization is an excellent example. We typically expect children to follow a certain sequence in math, learning first addition/subtraction facts, then moving on to memorizing multiplication tables. If the child struggles at that point, we feel they are not ready for a higher level of math.

With VSLs (and other children, by the way), they are likely to agonize over the fact that they are ready for much higher math but are frustrated by their inability to memorize facts. If they are allowed to move ahead to more difficult material, setting aside the memorization, they will get it soon enough without apparent teaching. And, they will know their multiplication tables.


Part II: Resources

Below is a list of resources for the VSL covering areas such as math, logic, spatial books and games, science, and economics. Be aware that, as with any resource, each child is an individual and what works for one child will not work for another. Visual/spatial children are as varied as any group of children; yet, as stated in the first part of this series, there are some definite commonalities amongst these learners.

I've categorized these resources into broad categories since so many of them cross boundaries. Please refer to the key below. I've also included approximate ages for each resource. Items available in the library are noted.

B	Book	M	Magazine or Newspaper
G	Game or Toy	CDRom	CDRom
V	Video or DVD	C	CD or Audio Cassette
Cat	Catalogue	W	Website

Title	Type	Ages	Description	Library
Aha! and Gotcha!	B	11+	Martin Gardner	Yes
Architecture Kit	G	10+	www.mindwareonline.com
Algebra Survival Guide	B	11+		Yes
Backgammon	G	8+
Bird Charts
Building Big	V	All ages	Vol. 1-5: Dams, Bridges, Tunnels, Skyscrapers, Domes	Yes
Building Thinking Skills-Figural	B	Level 2 (grades 4-6) Level 3 (grades 7-12)	www.criticalthinking.com
Cartoon Guide to Physics	B	high school	Larry Gonick	Yes
Chaos Building Set	G	6+	www.chaostoy.com
Chess books	B			Yes
Chessmastes	CDrom	6+
Chessmaster 7000	G	10+
Cribbage	G
David McCauley books	B	all ages		Yes
Discovering Geometry: An Inductive Approach	B	high school	www.keypress.com
Dissassembling electronic items
Dr. Broth and Ollie's Brain-Boggling Search for the Lost Luggage	B	10+	Michael Abrams
Earthwatch, San Diego Union-Tribune	M		Wednesdays, Science section, page 3
Fischertechnik	G	6+	www.timberdoodle.com
Fractals, Googols, and Other Mathematical Tales	B	9+	Theoni Pappas	Yes
Future Scientists and Engineers of America	W	4th grade+	www.fsea.org
Geometer's Sketchpad	B and CDRom	high school	www.keypress.com
Growing Money	B	8+	Debbie Honig
Horrible Science	B	8+	Ugly Bugs, Bulging Brains, Chemical Chaos, and Fatal Forces
Jigsaw Puzzles	G
I Hate Mathematics	B	8+	Marilyn Burns	Yes
Legos	G
Lego Mindstorms	G and CDRom	9+	mindstorms.lego.com
Logical Journey of the Zoombinis	CDRom	8+		Yes
Math and Music	CDRom	10+		Yes
Mathblaster	CDRom	6+		Yes
Mathematics: A Human Endeavor	B	11+	Harold Jacobs	Yes
Mathmania	M	6+	www.highlights.com
Math for Smarty Pants	B	8+	Marilyn Burns	Yes
Math for the Real World	CDRom	10+		Yes
Math Smart, Math Smart, Jr.	B	11+		Yes
Math Trek and Math Trek II	B	9+	Ivars Peterson
Mazes	G
MegaMath	V		MegaMath website
MLB Showdown	G
Murderous Maths	B	9+	Such titles as Vicious Circles and Desperate Measures
Muse	M
Enzensberger	B	10+		Yes
Nancy Drew	CDRom	10+	three titles	Yes
National Geographic for Kids	M	8+	www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
Number Devil, The: A Mathematical Adventure	B	10+	Hans Enzensberger	Yes
Odyssey	M	4th grade+	www.cobblestonepub.com
Origami books	G and B	all ages
Paper Airplane books	B and G	(all ages)
Puzzlemania	M	6+	www.highlights.com
Return of the Incredible Machine Contraptions	CDRom	10+		Yes
Rush Hour	G	6+	webgames.com
Schlessinger Science Library	V	grades K-4 and 5-8		Yes
Schoolhouse Rock	CDRom and V	all ages		Yes
SET	G	6+
Sierra's Schoolhouse-Math	CDRom	grades 2-5
Star Wars Pit Droids	CDRom	10+		Yes
Statistics (baseball, stock market, etc.)
Stratomatic Baseball	G	11+
Symbolic Logic	B	high school+	Lewis Carroll	Yes
Tessellation Exploration	CDRom	10+		Yes
Thought Provokers	B	10+
Usborne Advanced Science Adventures	B	11+
Usborne Puzzle Adventures	B	8+
Usborne Science Adventures	B	8+
An Usborne Introduction and Usborne Understanding Science	B	11+	Usborne series. Titles include Electronics, Robotics, and Atoms and Molecules
Way Things Work	B and CDRom	6+		Yes
Way Things Go	V	all ages
Whatever Happened To Penny Candy?	B	10+	An Uncle Eric Book — www.bluestockingpress.com
Young Math Books Series	B	all ages	Various authors, published by Thomas Y. Crowell	Yes

Becca Orlowski is a homeschool mom in San Diego and a regular contributor to San Diego Homeschooling. You can meet her at the Mission Valley Book Club at Borders in Mission Valley West every first Monday of the month at 11:30AM.