more on right brained- visual spatial learners

I was looking through a homeschooling blog I like and have posted about before- Throwing Marshmallows and came across another great page of posts about visual spatial learners. I like this quote- "Right-brainers are not broken! If there are left-brained learners and right-brained learners, why isn’t there a plethora of negative labels for the left-brained learner? Each type of learner should be valued for what it offers. Each learner should be allowed to flourish in the environment that supports their timeframe and process. Just because the left-brained value system is so prolific in our society and culture doesn’t mean it is superior. It means it is accepted, which means the supports are in place, which means it is easier to value what already exists."

Much of what is written about right brained- visual spatial learning is negative, as though something is broken and needs to be fixed. What bothered me in the book Upside-down Brilliance was this attitude. That the kids- people- were not getting things properly or in the right time frame. Never mind what they DO get. Stephanie from Throwing Marshmallows point this out as well- "It [A Global View of Strategies for Visual Spatial Learners] assumes that phonics is the correct way to learn to read and if you don’t learn by phonics at age 6 or 7, then you are “poor at reading” i.e., something is “wrong”. Yet, r-b kids, if not forced to try to read before they are ready or in a manner which is contrary to their learning style are NOT poor readers. They are not even “late” readers. They are “right on time readers” for them. It is only the system that labels them “poor” or makes them feel “less than”.

Another blog for this sort of dialogue- Apple Stars. I have to read a little more...

Here is a great post about reading for r-b visual-spatial learners, also from Apple Stars.

And here is part of an interesting outline she has on her blog-

"1. Not here to give you a label to attach to child

2. Two reasons to understand this style of child

a. Mass schooling teaches in left-brain fashion

(1) most of us were taught there

(2) we often start with this teaching style

b. Society thus values left-brain traits

(1) help you recognize which traits

(2) help you learn to value right-brain traits

II. RIGHT-BRAINED TRAITS (from our family’s experiences)

A. Visual Interests

1. Give value

a. video games/computers

b. drawing

c. music

d. theater/dance

e. building

2. Encourage gifts

a. get supplies

b. create availability

c. subscribe/collect

B. Alone Time

1. Create time

a. takes time

b. requires concentration

2. “Perculating” time

a. concepts solidify through thinking

b. concepts solidify through interest exploration

3. Pursues interests

a. gifts require time and commitment

b. views world through interest

C. Resists Teaching; Loves Learning

1. Because don’t teach the way they learn"