Spatial Learners

I’m not sure “spatial learners” is an actual term, but the idea behind it is. What I mean by a spatial learner is someone who needs concrete, hands on tools to manipulate and learn.

Kinesthetic learners are often described as hands on learners, but more precisely, they need the movement that comes with hands on types of experiences.

Spatial learners need to see things in concrete form in front of them. Now that doesn’t mean that if you’re learning about farming that you have to drive a John Deere through the classroom, but it does explain the value of field trips.

Spatial learning concepts can be used for learning about things that are more of an idea than an actual thing. Using M&M’s to teach basic math skills or the concept of grouping is an example.

You can take the idea even further - after all, six M&M’s is still a pretty concrete example of the number 6.

Let’s say you want to teach a basic spelling concept, like how q is always followed by u. And let’s use those M&M’s again. Let’s say all the red M&M’s are the letter q, and all the yellow ones are the letter u. The rest of the M&M’s are other letters in the alphabet.

You can show your child how the red ones have one very best friend - the yellow ones. But the yellow ones are more friendly, social and outgoing. They have lots of friends. So if you see a red M&M, you will always see a yellow one with it. But if you see a yellow one, it might have a red one with it, or maybe a green one or brown one. Get it?

Spatial learners basically need something concrete in their hands to go with the ideas they are trying to grasp. You might want to go easy on the M&M’s though. Lego’s might be a better idea.

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