The Learning Styles Myth
Some people think each child has a preferred way of taking things in. On that idea, a child should be taught that way. A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely. We ask which skill is not built yet.
TL;DR
- Some people think each child has a preferred way of taking things in. On that idea, a child should be taught that way. A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely.
- A 2008 review set out what a fair test of learning styles would need. The learners would be grouped by style. Each one would get one way of teaching, at random. Everyone would take the same final test. The idea needs the best way to teach to differ from style to style.
- A 2008 review found plenty of evidence that people state preferences. It also found that people are good at different things. In our reading, neither shows that matching teaching to a preference helps.
- Showing material in more than one form is fine for every child. Multisensory work is different again. It uses sight, sound and movement together, on the same material. It does not pick one form to suit one child.
- We do not sort children into learning styles. In our view, the useful question is which skill is not built yet.
What the idea says
Some people think each child has a preferred way of taking things in. On that idea, a child should be taught that way.
In our view, the idea comes from a kind place. To us, the care behind it is right. Matching teaching to a preferred way is what two reviews looked at.
What a fair test would need
The 2008 review set out what a fair test would need. The learners would be grouped by style. Each one would get one way of teaching, at random. Everyone would take the same final test. The idea needs the best way to teach to differ from style to style.
The 2008 review found that very few studies had tested the idea that way. Of those that had, several found results against it.
What two reviews found
A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely.
The 2008 review is by Pashler and colleagues. The 2024 review is by Clinton-Lisell and Litzinger.
The 2008 review's authors said many versions have not been tested at all.
The 2024 review's authors weighed the time and cost of matching. They also weighed how well the studies were done. Their view was about whether matching should be taken up widely.
What the 2008 review did find
The 2008 review found plenty of evidence that people state preferences. It also found that people are good at different things. In our reading, neither shows that matching teaching to a preference helps.
A common idea among educators
A 2020 review looked at surveys of educators (Newton and Salvi, 2020). The review found that belief in matching teaching to learning styles was common. It looked at what educators said. It did not look at what helps children learn.
More than one form, and multisensory work
Showing material in more than one form is fine for every child. Multisensory work is different again. It uses sight, sound and movement together, on the same material. It does not pick one form to suit one child.
The question we ask instead
Our question is a different one. Which skill is not built yet? Which one should come first? Our position is that this is a question of order, not of style.
When to ask for help
Each of these is a reason to ask for help on its own.
- Little change, even with steady practice and good teaching.
- Schoolwork well below what school expects.
- A teacher who raises a concern about learning.
- Extreme upset about schoolwork.
- Complete avoidance of school or learning.
- Hopelessness about learning.
- Sadness or worry that lasts.
- Significant delays in speech, language or motor development.
- A skill that was there and has gone. Our position is that a lost skill goes to a doctor first, not a tutor.
If no skill has gone, start with the teacher. Say what you are seeing at home, and what you have tried. Beyond the teacher, the right person depends on what it turns out to be about. If the work is too hard, someone who works on that school skill. If worry or mood is the thing, someone who works with children's mental health. In our view, delays in speech, language or movement are worth raising with your child's doctor. In our view, if you are worried enough to ask, a professional evaluation is worth asking about.
Any talk of hurting themselves is a same-day call to your doctor or a crisis line.
In the classroom
Say it, write it and show it, for the whole class. To us, the part to drop is picking one way for one child.
Two sentences for an email home: "In class, I show new work in more than one way. Which part of the work looks hard at home?"
Key Takeaways
Some people think each child has a preferred way of taking things in. On that idea, a child should be taught that way. A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely.
A 2008 review found plenty of evidence that people state preferences. It also found that people are good at different things. In our reading, neither shows that matching teaching to a preference helps.
Showing material in more than one form is fine for every child. Multisensory work is different again. It uses sight, sound and movement together, on the same material. It does not pick one form to suit one child.
We do not sort children into learning styles. In our view, the useful question is which skill is not built yet.
Pick one piece of schoolwork your child finds hard. Notice which step goes wrong. Write that step down, and share it with whoever teaches your child.
”What to do tonightWhat to use next
An overview of processing skills. Our work on each runs alongside reading, spelling or math instruction, not in place of it.
Common questions from parents
Is my child a "visual learner"?
A 2008 review found plenty of evidence that people state preferences. It also found that people are good at different things. In our reading, neither shows that matching teaching to a preference helps. We do not sort children that way. In our view, the useful question is which skill is not built yet.
Has the learning styles idea been tested?
A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. It also found that very few studies were built to test the idea. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely. The 2008 review's authors said many versions have not been tested at all.
Is there a quiz that shows my child's learning style?
We do not sort children into learning styles. A 2008 review found almost no evidence that matching teaching to learning styles helps. The 2008 review said the evidence did not justify learning-styles assessments in schools. A 2024 review judged any gain too small and too rare to adopt widely. In our view, the useful question is which skill is not built yet.